Modern offices are changing. They’ve evolved a lot, and most businesses have moved away from cubicles and individual offices to open-plan layouts and welcoming breakout spaces. Additionally, flexible working arrangements are also available, both for those who want to work from home and for employees who can pick hot desking. In short, businesses have already been looking into ways to make their workplaces healthier and more enjoyable.
What does this mean? The idea isn’t simply to make an office look nicer. According to research, spending time around nature can positively influence well-being, focus, and even job satisfaction. Additionally, as Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors, bringing more greenery into the workplace can help reconnect employees with the natural world.
But how do you create a greener office without completely renovating the space? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Why Green Spaces Matter at Work
Adding greenery to an office may be an aesthetic choice, but it has benefits beyond the appearance alone.
In fact, employees working in environments with natural elements are more productive than those in offices with no connection to nature. The increase in productivity is not negligible, as reports talk about a 15% increase.
Green spaces may sound counterproductive as they tend to encourage employees to step away from their desks, but the pause usually lasts only for a few minutes. This could be to enjoy lunch in a garden or simply to look out at plants during their coffee break. While this is a small moment, it is highly beneficial to those who spend a lot of time working on screens.
For employers, investing in greener workplaces can help create an environment where people feel more comfortable, motivated, and happier to spend time.
Desk Plants
Desk plants are probably the easiest way to introduce more greenery and personalize the workspace.
Ultimately, some offices have room for indoor trees and large planters, but this isn’t the case for every business. Desks, on the other hand, can accommodate a small potted plant.
There are plenty of low-maintenance options available that require very little attention while adding color to the workspace:
- Snake plants
- Pothos
- ZZ plants
- Spider pants
- Succulents
Besides, allowing employees to choose and care for their own plants creates a sense of ownership. It also ensures the workplace reflects a little personality without affecting your professional business image.
Turning the Courtyard into a Garden
If the office has access to an outdoor courtyard, this can become a green space. Courtyards are often left unused and covered in concrete. So, this is the opportunity to add a small lawn area with seating and shaded zones.
The space can become an extension of the workspace, just as being used for informal meetings or even for quick breaks instead of the break room.
There’s no denying that a well-maintained lawn can create a welcoming first impression for visitors. But this requires some extra work. Healthy grass needs ongoing care. It’s important to understand the basics of fertilizing a lawn to ensure your outdoor spaces stay green and enjoyable throughout the growing season. Ultimately, the courtyard can become a long-term asset for the business.
Low-Maintenance Landscaping
Naturally, not every workplace has the desire for a traditional lawn. But the good thing about greenery is that it can come in different forms.
Low-maintenance landscaping can provide many of the same visual benefits while reducing the need for watering, mowing, pruning, and other upkeep must-dos. Using natural plants and ornamental grasses can also help create a space that needs very little work. Pollinator-friendly plants are another neat addition that create an attractive space, even if you are not constantly maintaining it.
Options that support local wildlife by providing habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies are very useful. They bring more nature to the workplace while demonstrating your commitment to sustainability. So, it’s always a good idea to work with a specialist landscaping company that understands how to design for wildlife with hiding spots and water features.
You can also add benches and pathways to make the space more usable while reducing the overall maintenance amount.
Allow Employees to Grow Something
Gardening doesn’t need to be passive. More and more companies are looking into opportunities to encourage their employees to look after plants as part of their workplace well-being initiatives.
A Chinese business, for instance, has transformed part of the office into a shared fruit and vegetable garden. Some are growing bananas or persimmons as a way to fight work stress. It’s worth mentioning that Chinese companies have a 996 working hour system, which can lead to burnout and high stress levels. Young employees are starting to grow bananas first as a pun, as the saying “stop banane green” sounds similar to “atop anxiety”. But the trend soon became popular, and many workers have been looking for their favorite fruit plants to grow in the office.
While this may not be applicable to the same extent everywhere, there’s certainly a lot to be said about growing tomatoes or kitchen herbs in the office and sharing the harvest between the team.
Consider a Company Allotment
If the business doesn’t have an outdoor space, there may be an option to partner with a local community garden to create a company allotment that employees can visit outside of working hours.
The allotment can give staff the opportunity to garden outside work and grow something pretty as a form of stress relief. Flowers are a popular choice, but many also choose vegetables and fruits, which can be shared with others.
Participation needs to be entirely voluntary, of course. But there’s no denying that a shared space helps build friendships across teams and improve communication.
l benefit their employees. At an age when office stress shows no sign of disappearing, it appears particularly important to look for initiatives that can support employee well-being and improve the workplace culture.