In our last blog, we took a look at how to select the right office for your business. Now we’re going to look at how to make that environment most conducive to work.
Everyone enjoys some greenery in the workplace to help break up the monotony of magnolia walls that are so prevalent in the work environment. However, there are greater benefits than just aesthetics:
Reduce Stress:
In a study conducted in 2010 (you can read the study here), significant reductions in stress were recorded when plants were located in the office:
- Tensions/anxiety – 37% reduction
- Depression/dejection – 58% reduction
- Anger/hostility – 44% reduction
- Fatigue – 38% reduction
The introduction of plants appears to make the environment more calming and a nicer place to be.
Increase Productivity:
It has been proven that by introducing plants in to the working environment increases productivity. The tests showed that fewer mistakes were made, tasks were completed quicker and in the case of computer workers, productivity increased 10-15%.
Reduce Sickness & Absence:
It has been reported that the introduction of plants to offices has decreased absenteeism by up to 50% and a reduction of up to 30% in minor illnesses.
Cleaner Air to Breathe:
Plants are natural air cleaners and humidifiers. By introducing just 1 plant per 3 people, the air quality within the office can be substantially improved and CO2 significantly reduced. With the plants acting as natural filters, dust levels in the office can be reduced by up to 20 per cent and man-made toxins, created by plastics, paint, furniture, carpets and certain cleaning products, can also be reduced.
Many offices employ air conditioning to keep the environment at a steady temperature, however this in itself causes issues of dry air and contributes to an increase in illnesses such as tickly coughs. The introduction of plants can reduce the need for air con and the environment can be kept at a higher, more comfortable, humidity.
Reduce Noise:
A less commonly known fact about plants is that they are natural sound deadeners. The introduction of plants can reduce ambient noise within an office by as much as 5 decibels.
Which Plants to Choose:
Careful consideration should be given to which plants to choose; they need to be hardy to resist the environment in which they will be situated and may need to be able to survive extended periods of neglect, perhaps through holiday periods etc. Some suggestions of suitable plants could be:
- Cactus
- Succulents
- Ivy
- Rubber plants
Prospect Business Park is situated in an area of natural beauty, surrounded by green fields where horses graze and views of the rolling Durham countryside, providing a very relaxing working environment with minimum noise interference. However, we are still only moments away from all of the main transport links for the area.
We strive to ensure the inside of the offices match that of the external environment, with the introduction of plants and greenery in the corridors, landings and break-out areas.
With offices available from just £140 per calendar month, Prospect Business Park is not only an enjoyable environment to work in, it also makes extremely good financial sense too. If you would like to arrange a convenient time to view our offices, please do not hesitate to contact us by email, telephone or our online contact form which can be found >here<