4 BENEFITS OF PLANTS IN THE WORKSPACE

1. Improve the Health of Employees and Reduce Sick Days


According to environmental psychology expert Dr. Tina Bringlismark from the University of Life Sciences, Norway, the more office plant workers see the less sick leave they take. People believe plants are healthier and are likely to evaluate their own health more optimistically, therefore reducing short term employee absenteeism by 10%, according to studies. Plants naturally filter toxins from the offices that they grow in and help freshen up the workplace.





2. Office Plants Can Play a Role in Increasing Productivity


According to 10 years of dedicated research, Dr. Chris Knight and his fellow psychologists at Exeter University came to the conclusion that workers employees perform better and are 15% more productive when there are houseplants and décor in their workspaces. That is because employees who engage with their surroundings tend to achieve greater output and have an easier time staying focused.




3. Office Plants Can Help Reduce Stress


Office plants have been shown to reduce stress levels in employees when introduced into the workplace. Just one plant can make a huge difference. A UTS study conducted in 2010, found that offices that were filled with plants saw the following benefits: a 37% reduction in anxiety, a 44% reduction in office hostility, reduced chronic fatigue by nearly 40%, 58% reduction in reported depression.






4. Office Plants Can Help Absorb Background Noise


Plants can be used effectively to absorb noise in open-plan offices. Strategically placed plants quieten down an office. Their leaves absorb, deflect, and refract sound; plants also absorb smells. According to research conducted by Dr. Helen Russell & Dr. David Uzzell, at the University of Surrey, a small indoor hedge or partition will reduce noise by 5 decibels. Therefore, positioning larger plant pots, around the edges and corners of a room is the best way to reap the benefits