8 percent more productive office workers in a natural environment

Workplace without nature have a significantly adverse impact on the health and well-being of office workers. When there are no natural elements are present, the work stress is higher and the productivity of the employees is lower. This is evidenced by an examination of Interface about the influence of the physical office environment on the welfare of workers.

The research, published in the Human Spaces Report and conducted under the supervision of the English professor Sir Cary Cooper, is carried out under 3,600 office workers from Europe (Denmark, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and The United Kingdom) and Dubai. 

The Results

The research shows that people, despite that a large part of life in urban environments, naturally have a strong kinship with nature or elements there. Invest in a on nature based office interior design is for organizations that want to increase the productivity of their workers a must, the researchers said.

Further, among others, the following results from the study: Office environments that feature natural elements, such as plants and natural light, enlarge the welfare of workers with 13 percent and productivity with 8 percent.

42 percent of those surveyed mention daylight as favorite attribute. However, 42 percent of respondents to no natural light and no window has 7 percent even in the workplace. (In Netherlands is this 4 percent).

Almost half of the respondents, namely 40 percent (41 percent in Netherlands), gives to itself to feel more productive in a private office space. This is offset by 31 percent of respondents who think they are most productive in an office garden. In The Netherlands feels only 17 percent of workers are the most productive in an open plan office.

Dutch employees want in their favorite work environment five natural elements. 55 percent, 32 percent daylight calls a peaceful working environment, 22 percent real plants, 16 percent bright colors and 14 percent the use of natural materials.
82 percent of respondents from Europe works in an urban environment. In the Netherlands this is 67 percent.
Dutch employees bring a week on average 33 hours in the Office. This runs concurrently with the European average of 34 hours a week.

Influence of the nature

The Human Spaces Report clearly demonstrates the link between the influence of the working environment and productivity. It is no coincidence that more and more employers are now opting to work environment that employees inspire and stimulate creativity. Biophilic design, designs inspired by nature, are an important part of it, “says professor Sir Cary Cooper.

Color and texture

“Contact with nature and agile working designs that mimic nature to promote the health, performance and concentration and reduce stress. When it comes to designing work spaces that encourage this, it is important to the characteristics of the nature at the Office, such as color and texture. Improving the well-being, productivity and creativity of employees is essential to the success of the entire organization, “says Basil Arkel, head of sustainable development at Interface.