Formanyofus,ourphysicalworkplacecanbedark,depressing,blandandevendysfunctional.Windowlesscubiclefarmsandairlessopen-planfloorscankillmotivationandtakeatollonworkerperformance,possiblyeventheirhealth.Butarefreshingtrendistakingrootinworkplacedesign:nature.There’sagrowingbodyofevidenceshowingthatworkplacesthatincorporatenaturalelements,suchasplants,light,coloursandshapes,havenoticeable—andmeasurable—benefitsforbothcompaniesandtheiremployees.Thepositiveeffectstouchoneverythingfromworkerhappinessandcreativitytoincreasedproductivity,decreasedabsenteeism,betterstaffretention,improvedprofits,andtheimprovedabilitytoattractthebestworkers.It’sallbasedontheprincipleofbiophilia—theinstinctiveaffinitythathumanshavewiththenaturalworldandotherlivingsystems.Andit’seasiertoachieveattheofficethanyou’dthink.“Peoplejustdon’tlikefluorescentlightsinabuildingwithnoplants,noviews,nonaturallighting,”saysSirCaryCooperCBE,professoroforganisationalpsychologyandhealthatLancasterUniversityintheUKandco-founderofconsultancyRobertson-Cooper.Heleda2015studyontheimpactofbiophiliaintheworkplacethatsurveyed7,600workersin16countriesandfoundthatevensmallnature-inspiredchangescanhaveadramaticimpact.RespondentstotheHumanSpacesGlobalReportwhoworkedinenvironmentswithnaturalelementsreporteda15%higherlevelofwell-being,a6%higherlevelofproductivityanda15%higherlevelofcreativity.Onethirdofrespondentssaidthedesignofanofficewouldaffecttheirdecisiontoworkforacompany.Evenso,58%saidtherewerenoliveplantsattheirworkplaceand47%reportedhavingnonaturallight.Anearlier,2014studybyCardiffUniversityinWalesalsoshowedthatplantsintheofficemakepeoplehappierandmoreproductive.Butmoreresearchisneededintobiophilia,expertssay.
