Research on “micronature” (the incorporation of small, affordable natural elements into the workplace) demonstrates its positive impact on employee performance and well-being. Research shows that being in touch with nature at work increases productivity, usefulness, and creativity, but there’s no evidence of adverse effects. Recommendations include both real and man-made nature, extend beyond the office environment, take advantage of underutilized spaces, and encourage contact with nature during off hours. Integrating nature into the workplace improves overall business performance.
In Canary Wharf, a bustling district that serves as the London base for many global companies, developers Building a “Green Spine” It will soon weave between skyscrapers, giving workers immediate access to green spaces while on duty. His UK headquarters for Google under construction, across the street. Rooftop park with a total length of 300 meters More than 250 trees grow on top of the building, providing employees with a natural escape from the office and the urban environment below. Retailer LL Bean on the other side of the Atlantic cut out the center of one of his warehouses and turned the space into a courtyard. in my new home office You can enjoy the natural scenery while working. These examples of incorporating nature into commercial spaces are part of the trend to design places where employees can immerse themselves in nature while at work.
Increasing nature in the workplace certainly aligns with many companies’ sustainability efforts. But that motivation also stems from nature’s impact on humans, and it’s well known that nature makes us feel good.our emotions, thoughts, connections with others, and physical health Everything is enhanced by being in and around nature.
Despite the link between contact with nature and our well-being, large-scale investments in introducing nature into the workplace pose some thorny issues. First, in a time of economic headwinds and cost cutting, is there a business case for incorporating nature around employees? Second, what about workplaces where incorporating green spines or rooftop gardens is impractical or unwise?
To answer these questions, we first need to understand whether nature impacts metrics that are important to an organization’s bottom line (such as employee satisfaction and performance) and, if so, whether less extreme consumption of nature is meaningful enough to derive these benefits. So we decided to test the effect (if any) of what we call it. microscopic nature — A small, affordable, seemingly harmless way to incorporate nature into the workplace — About how employees feel and perform at work.
research
We measured or manipulated workplace contact with nature in different ways across multiple studies of workers in the United States, Canada, China, New Zealand, and Indonesia. In the experiment, working adults were simply shown images of workplaces with or without natural elements. We then asked them to imagine working in these spaces and report how it felt and performed for them. We also conducted more complex studies in real work environments. For example, we assessed how the employee actually interacted with nature during her work week (such as working near plants, natural sights, the sound of running water, etc.) to measure the employee’s emotions and objective job performance. Finally, in a field experiment at an accounting firm, we entered the office at night and placed potted plants on the desks of some employees and similar pots filled with only office supplies on other desks. We then measured and compared the attitudes and job performance of the two groups.
The results were fairly consistent across these studies, and even small amounts of nature experiences at work improved employee mood and energized them. Better performance on tasks, more helpand Increased creativity. These findings demonstrate that incorporating micronature into the work environment can contribute to worker well-being and performance in meaningful ways.
We also investigated whether there are differences between employees that determine how nature affects them at work. Factors include how highly individuals generally value nature and how attracted they are to new experiences. Our findings showed that some people are particularly prone to experiencing the benefits of nature. However, we found no evidence that employees were adversely affected by natural exposures at work. Micronature, therefore, appears to hold considerable promise with little downside for employees.
With these findings in mind, we believe nature should be accessible to as many employees as possible, not just those lucky enough to work under a green roof or by a park. Companies need to provide employees with microscopic nature experiences. Below, we offer suggestions for incorporating micronature into the workplace while encouraging managers to exercise freedom and creativity within their specific organizations.
Take advantage of minute nature
Real is best, but synthetics work too.
When it comes to nature, giving employees the chance to access the ‘real’ is ideal. This could be an indoor plumbing system, a window with a view of nature, or a window that opens to let in natural sounds such as birdsong. But just because it’s not real doesn’t mean employees can’t benefit from nature. Studies show that even depictions of nature, such as murals and artificial flowers, can provide natural stimulation to employees.
Think beyond the office…
Of course, office workers aren’t the only ones to benefit from nature. Employees in particularly remote work environments, such as warehousing and manufacturing, are particularly likely to be positively impacted by the difference, noticing that the outdoor environment has been brought indoors.
…and beyond the workplace.
The benefits of nature extend beyond the working lives of employees. Some of our research also looked at the work-related benefits of spending time outdoors in the evening after work.employees I was more productive the next day When I spent time outdoors the night before. The impact is clear, especially for hybrid and remote workers. The benefits of being surrounded by nature at home carry over to work. So even just encouraging your employees to take an evening walk can lead to increased productivity the next day.
Take advantage of unused or underutilized space.
By definition, micronature is small, something as simple as painting a wall in natural tones, flowers in a break room, or beautifying the area outside an employee’s window. We encourage managers to pay attention to unused or underutilized spaces around the workplace. These spaces can be easily and inexpensively transformed into natural landscapes. For example, adding more landscaping to an overly industrial parking lot can boost employee morale.
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Overall, our findings show that the benefits of connecting employees with nature in the workplace extend beyond sustainability, positively impacting employee well-being and how work is done. That is why we see contact with nature as a valuable complement to well-designed work that already includes meaningful work, fair remuneration and respectful treatment. For companies looking for additional ways to provide this and improve the working environment for their employees, micronature offers great potential.