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• Posted Sept. 19, 2016, 1:22 p.m. - 8 years, 1 month ago

Keep a Natural Work Environment for Increased Productivity

A cluttered desk often means a cluttered workload, but does that mean if your desk is bare then your day will be more productive? A recent study by scientists at the University of Exeter and Cardiff University’s School of Psychology has shown that productivity in the office can actually be improved by 15% if plants are introduced to the environment, rather than enforcing a minimalist environment.

This may sound silly – why would a plant make us feel more productive – but researchers have monitored the productivity levels in two large commercial offices over a period of months and found that those working in the presence of greenery were more productive than those working in a stern, lean environment.

The two offices, one based in the UK and one in the Netherlands, were enriched with plants that were primarily green, rather than brightly coloured, and resulted in higher levels of staff concentration, workplace satisfaction and perceptions in the quality of the air. Analysis leading from these results has concluded that these psychological benefits result from employees being more emotionally, physically and cognitively involved in their work.

Also involved in the study were academics from the University of Groningen in The Netherlands and the University of Queensland, Australia, as well as Kenneth Freeman, Head of Innovation at interior landscaping company Ambius.

Further information on this study and the outcomes

• Business, Collaboration & Productivity
• Office Life
• Productivity