In 2020, every industry in the world was faced with the enormous challenge of social distancing. Companies that transitioned their employees to work from home witnessed the unforeseen impacts of social isolation, heightened by the stresses of pandemic-induced uncertainty. A report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that at least 71% of those working from home are struggling to adjust, particularly when it comes to maintaining employee morale. While some are finding ways to balance the increased responsibilities of family life and home office overlap, others are feeling more isolated than ever before.
As employers search for ways to alleviate pandemic stress, more are looking to the corporate gifting sector for small gestures that can improve the WFH experience.
Unsurprisingly, the most popular and well received gifts of the moment are ones that contribute to improving mental and physical well being.
Self-care has never been more critical. Long days staring at a computer screen in combination with the lack of natural breaks employees usually get during their lunch, meetings, coffee runs, and commutes, have led to a host of WFH-related health problems.
A thoughtful gift can go a long way in making employees and clients feel supported as they navigate this challenging time. One gift that is proven to improve both mental and physiological well being is the gift of indoor plants.
A new study published by the Journal of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening out of the University of Seville in Spain discovered that the presence of plants has benefitted mental health during the Covid-19 lockdown. In the study, a questionnaire about the lockdown experience between March and June 2020 was filled out by 4,205 people from 46 countries worldwide.
Out of 4,205 respondents, 75% reported that having plants had a positive impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing. More than half of respondents (55.8%) said they wanted more plants to help them cope with the difficult period. And those whose homes were devoid of any plants (3.3%) reported higher levels of negative emotions during lockdown.
These findings align with previous scientific studies showing that the presence of indoor plants is linked to a wide range of psychological and physiological benefits, including reduced cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, enhanced memory and cognition, and a greater ability to concentrate.
If you’re looking for ways to give your employees, clients, or business partners a morale boost, consider sending them an easy to care for, air purifying indoor plant. The Desk Plants corporate gifting program offers several options to meet your specific gifting needs. All plant recipients receive an instructional care card and full access to our customer support team.
As companies continue to practice social distancing and working from home to keep employees safe, we can invest in small but meaningful ways to support each other’s health and well being.
Cover photo by @jungleinaroom