New research findings from TNO Quality of Life provide more insight into the positive effects of having plants in the workplace.
The
fact that everyone who sits at a computer longer than four hours works
more productively and clearly more enjoyably with plants nearby has
been known for some time. "Even one large plant for every two
employees or one large plant for every 12 m² provides a beneficial
effect!" says John Klein Hesselink, senior researcher at TNO.
Less fatigued and less stressed
Having plants in the workplace is especially beneficial
for fatigued employees and those with health problems. The positive
effects of plants on the health and well-being of employees are due
mainly to the recuperative potential that plants provide. Plants in a
work environment reintroduce the feeling of the natural environment in
which human beings evolved, which is why people feel most at home in
green surroundings. Because plants have a positive effect on
psychological well-being, people recover more quickly from tiredness
and stress.
Productivity
In the study, full-time employees, in particular, noted a reduction in
their flu-like symptoms and felt more able to work with the plants
installed, showing that the period of time in which people have plants
within their range of vision is an important factor. It was also found
that employees are more productive when they can see green plants
whenever they look up.
Recommendation
Based on this research, TNO recommends providing one
large plant for every two employees or one large plant for every 12 m²
of office space. It’s also important to distribute the plants evenly
throughout the entire organisation so that all employees can benefit
from them as doing so decreases health problems and complaints of
tiredness, particularly among employees who are fatigued and suffering
from stress.
This study was commissioned by the Dutch Product
Board for Horticulture and conducted by TNO in collaboration with the
Interior Planting Section of the VGH (Association of Horticulturalists
and Plant Care Specialists).
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