Honestly, would you rather work from your couch in pajamas all day or sit through another 4-hour PowerPoint presentation? It’s safe to say we’d all pick the former! But on a serious note, COVID placed an important spotlight on employee health and wellness. Now, as people return to their offices, their expectations are heightened. Employers are now looking into redesigning the office space to encourage and foster employee productivity, wellness, and satisfaction. But in order to do so, business leaders need to prioritize health and wellness throughout the workplace.
In fact, there is a term called biophilia that may just be the key to ensuring employee wellness. Biologist, Edward O. Wilson, describes biophilia as the notion that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. In the past, employers may have overlooked the importance of biophilia. However, because of the spike in interest in health and wellness due to COVID, business leaders should begin finding innovative solutions to encourage biophilia at work. This can be accomplished by implementing a green roof, indoor or outdoor garden walls, or simply bringing plant life into the office. In this article, we’ll cover how biophilia can help employees reconnect with nature to destress and boost their overall wellness.
Incorporating nature at the office can provide a calming and peaceful environment for employees throughout the day — boosting morale while ensuring productivity levels stay elevated. But this doesn’t mean you should be opening your doors to a bunch of woodland creatures. Although, how AWESOME would that be?!
Instead, a more realistic and safer option would be to add plant life throughout the workplace. For example, living walls, green roofs, and even indoor plants can become a vibrant part of the office’s structure. Connecting to nature has many benefits for people’s health and wellness. In fact, the University of Minnesota states that 95% of survey respondents said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. Getting some fresh air at intervals throughout the workday can do wonders for employees’ mood and mental health. However, it may be a bit difficult to place all office desks and chairs outside. It’s much easier to bring a bit of nature indoors.
Another way to encourage biophilia at work is to add nature-inspired art, subtle sound effects, and scents throughout the office. While these things may not be alive, they still remind people of nature and provide a sense of calm. Think about how relaxed you automatically feel when you walk into a spa. There’s natural light, nature music playing, and the smell of fresh eucalyptus. Now imagine having that same feeling walking into the office. Too good to be true? Well, odds are the office won’t be as relaxing as a spa — we can’t have people falling asleep on the job. But it can cater to the biophilia in all employees to promote a healthier work environment.
Besides the great psychological benefits of incorporating nature into the workplace, plants also help improve air quality and reduce noise. This can be really helpful when you wish you could stop hearing Doug four cubicles down chomping on a bag of chips. But seriously, noise reduction is important when in a big busy office. Being able to hear your client on the phone (or actually hear your own thoughts) will undoubtedly boost your productivity. Also, since there is a heightened need for sanitization due to the global pandemic, the purified air will make employees feel safe as they return to the office.
To support biophilia in office environments, the building industry crafted what’s called biophilic design. Biophilic design is the act of creating spaces within or around buildings to increase human connectivity to nature. Studies show that by implementing biophilic design into office buildings, productivity can be increased by 8% and the rates of employee well-being can increase by 13%. Additionally, biophilic spaces improve creativity and can actually reduce absenteeism.
Green roofs are created with a biophilic design in mind. There are two types of green roofs, extensive and intensive. Extensive green roofs grow in 6 inches of media or less. Typically, these roofs consist of low-growing succulents, herbs, and grasses and are most often used for managing stormwater, providing cooling benefits, pollinator habitats, and protecting the building envelope.
Intensive green roofs are a true rooftop paradise — you might just have employees working overtime so they can spend more time on the roof! These roofs use growing media or soil anywhere from 6 to 24 inches deep enabling gardeners to plant large shrubs or even trees.
All too often, we forget that we too are part of nature and have the biophilic desire to spend time surrounded by plant life and wildlife. So, it’s no surprise that establishing a connection with nature improves the wellbeing of employees and even boosts productivity. It’s a win for the business leaders, a win for the employees, and a win for nature!
Do your employees need a little more pep in their step? Our team can help you create a biophilic office space to boost employee morale, satisfaction, and wellness. Schedule a consultation with us today and let’s get started!