A U.S. study has linked job satisfaction to the number of potted plants in an office environment.
A U.S. study has found increasing the number of potted plants in the office has a positive effect on job satisfaction. Image: Office plant. Credit: cote/flickr
The research conducted by the University of Texas and the San Marcos Nature Centre found that American office workers spend an average of 52 hours a week at their desks, according to the 2000 U.S. Census and said sitting in windowless offices with artificial light can have a detrimental effect on workers' health.
However the study led by Tina Cade, an associate professor of horticulture at Texas State University found that the introduction of green plants could help the working environment.
"We pretty much found out that if you had windows and plants or even if you just had plants in your office, you were more satisfied with your job," Cade told LiveScience.
"We thought it was important for offices because a lot of times people are looking for ways to keep employees happy and do all these expensive things like put in a daycare or a workout room. Maybe for less investment they could put in a few plants in strategic places."
In a survey conducted with 450 workers throughout Texas and the Midwest, the team found that workers who worked in offices which contained some green plants and window views felt happier about their work compared to those without.
Some 82 percent of people who work with plants and windows around said they felt "content" or "very happy" with their work environment. Only 69 percent of those who work with plants but without windows, and 60 percent of those who have windows but no plants, said they felt contented.
"I was really surprised that having a plant in your office appeared to be more beneficial than having a window in your office," Cade said. "Everybody says, 'I need a window!' but actually it seemed like a plant could be a suitable alternative."
The results of the research showed another surprise with more men than women reacting positively to the introduction of greenery.
"People will say that women react more to flowers and green stuff, but we actually saw the biggest differences in the guys," Cade said.
The team's research is published in the journal HortScience.
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