In recent decades, we have witnessed a change in the way workspaces are conceived. They are no longer simple work environments, but have become places that seek to foster social relationships, communication, productivity and employee well-being. One of the most prominent trends in this regard is the incorporation of green spaces in offices.
Green spaces in the office have been gaining strength as a fundamental element within corporate headquarters, but not only for an aesthetic reason, but for important issues such as sustainability, image, productivity, health and well-being of people.
The presence of plants and green areas in offices has proven to have numerous benefits for employees and companies.
Benefits of green spaces in the office
Green spaces in the office, a booming trend with many benefits for employees and companies
Wellness has become one of the top priorities for companies, especially in the wake of the pandemic. In this regard, several studies have shown that the incorporation of plants in the office not only has direct benefits on physical well-being, such as reducing headaches, air quality or eye irritation, but also has a positive impact on the emotional balance of workers and their mood.
First, green spaces help improve indoor air quality by filtering harmful substances and providing fresh oxygen.This translates into a healthier environment for workers, which in turn reduces the incidence of respiratory diseases and improves work performance.
In addition, green spaces in offices, i.e., the incorporation of elements that allow a direct connection with nature (parks and lakes) or indirect connections (e.g., decorating with indoor plants), also contributes to reducing stress and increasing employee comfort and relaxation.The presence of plants and natural elements has been shown to have a calming effect on people, helping to create a more balanced work environment conducive to concentration and creativity.
Productivity
Plants and green spaces are not only beautiful and improve our mood, but can also provide practical solutions to office functionality. They can, for example, improve acoustics, which helps us work better.
In this sense, a team of researchers from the School of Psychology at Cardiff University conducted a study that showed that those spaces that had green areas made workers feel more concentrated, with an improvement in productivity of 15% over those offices that did not bet on this trend.
According to another study, in this case by Lancaster University, biophilia in workspaces translates into 6% more productive and 15% more creative employees.
Another benefit of designing green spaces in the office is their ability to encourage interaction and teamwork among employees. Studies have shown that vegetated common areas increase collaboration and the exchange of ideas, promoting a more collaborative and creative work environment.
Sustainability
Green spaces have become the perfect ally for companies to reinforce their commitment to sustainability.
Brand image
The office is a brand’s calling card, and customers and employees increasingly value companies’ commitment to the environment and their efforts to create sustainable environments.
Green spaces demonstrate a concern for the well-being of employees and care for the environment, which translates into an improved corporate image and therefore a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
In this sense, plants play a fundamental role in the decoration of a space, offering many possibilities for differentiation.For example, incorporated in office furniture, as in these ENDESA offices.
