Research indicates that interior plants can play a critical role in reducing stress throughout corporate America. Our security uncertainties and current economic environment are placing added stress on American workers. When stress escalates, employers report greater rates of absenteeism and lower productivity. Any slump in asset performance is always detrimental but even more consequential now as America rebuilds its economy and spirit.

According to research conducted by Integra Realty Resources, New York and Opinion Research Corp. International of Princeton, New Jersey, one out of eight employees calls in sick due to workplace stress and 23 percent of today’s workforce has been driven to tears as a result of workplace anxiety, with 10 percent working in an atmosphere where physical violence has occurred. Twenty nine percent of workers have actually raised their voice at co-workers. One of eight workers (12 percent) has called in sick because of workplace stress, and one of five American workers (19 percent) has left a company during the year the study was conducted due to stress

Human Resource experts are reinforcing the rule of providing employees with an environment that includes elements known to comfort and inspire workers during their "off" time. Gallup polls indicate that two thirds of Americans cite gardening as their favorite hobby. Similarly, studies conducted by Dr. Roger Urlich, (Texas A&M University) and Dr. Virginia Lohr, (Washington State University) confirm that visual exposure to plant settings has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes while enhancing productivity by twelve percent.

Another study out of Washington State University (Lohr and Pearson-Mims) verifies that once exposed to plant settings, test persons demonstrated more positive emotions such as happiness, friendliness and assertiveness and less negative emotions such as sadness and fear. Interior plants offer employees a much-needed touch of humanity while stimulating a more productive environment.


Plants reduce staff absenteeism
Research findings show that the introduction of plants into the workplace has reduced absenteeism. Professor Tove Fjeld of the Horticultural Institute at the Norwegian College of Agriculture conducted research in the X-ray department of an Oslo hospital showed a 60 percent reduction in absenteeism as a result of exposure to plants in the workplace. The reduced staff absenteeism has been maintained for more than s ix years.