{"id":1247,"date":"2021-08-12T10:06:20","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T09:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ambius.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1247"},"modified":"2025-07-04T12:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T11:24:14","slug":"what-do-workers-expect-when-they-return-to-the-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ambius.co.uk\/blog\/what-do-workers-expect-when-they-return-to-the-office\/","title":{"rendered":"What do workers expect when they return to the office?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research released today by Ambius, the experts in workspace plant design,
\nreveals that the appeal of working from home could be waning amongst office workers. The
\nmajority (52%) look forward to returning to the office for mental health and wellbeing reasons.
\nThis rises to almost two thirds (64%) amongst 18-34 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While physical health elements such as social distancing, hygiene, and ventilation are high on
\nthe list of priorities amongst workers when returning to the office following the pandemic, the
\nresearch conducted with 2,000 office workers across the UK also highlights the importance of
\nmental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

58% of office workers miss being in a space that is more dedicated to work, while two in five
\n(42%) say they don\u2019t have a sufficient workspace at home. The same percentage (42%) say they
\nfind their workplace is more creative or inspiring than working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost four in five (78%) believe employers should now prioritise health and wellbeing at work,
\nwith 47% saying they would consider leaving their current job if their employer did not make
\nchanges to help improve health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost two thirds (64%) of office workers believe the design of their workplace affects their
\nwellbeing. They cite indoor air quality (48%), their ability to access outdoor space (37%), natural
\nlight (34%), heating or air conditioning (34%) and plants and greenery<\/a> (16%) as the key design
\nfactors that they believe influence their wellbeing in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding plants and greenery to the office is one way that employers can demonstrate a
\ncommitment to their employees\u2019 emotional wellbeing. Studies show plants can help people feel
\nconnected with nature<\/a> as well as delivering benefits for emotional wellbeing including reduced
\nstress, lower blood pressure, increased self-esteem and improved mood. Some plant species
\nalso play a role in helping to improve air quality indoors, by acting as a natural air filter.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Office<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When asked about the value of adding plants to their workplace, 42% of British office workers
believe it improves the air quality, a third (33%) suggest it improves their mental health and
wellbeing, and 30% say it creates a better workplace in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prettpal Somel, UK Marketing Executive, Ambius<\/a> comments: \u201cInitially many people enjoyed
\nworking from home full time because it meant they didn\u2019t have to commute into work or dress
\nup. But, 12 months later the mental health benefits of being in a work environment that is
\nseparate to the home is shining through once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile employers quite rightly need to consider pressing elements to make their offices COVID-
\nsafe, they must not ignore the mental health benefits that a workplace provides. Air quality is
\nnot only one of the key pillars in the fight against Coronavirus, but can also help to boost the
\nsense of wellbeing that employees feel when working in a shared space. Employers should
\nadopt a dual-pronged approach in this regard, deploying an air purifier that is capable of killing
\nvirus particles in the air, such as VIRUSKILLER<\/a> which is distributed by Rentokil Initial, alongside
\ninstalling office plants which provide a connection with nature while indoors as well as helping
\nto improve air quality. The biophilia<\/a> hypothesis suggests that humans possess an innate
\ntendency to seek connections with nature, and so having living plants and greenery within the
\nworkplace is a great way to enhance this connection.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research released today by Ambius, the experts in workspace plant design, reveals that the appeal of working from home could be waning amongst office workers. The majority (52%) look forward to returning to the office for mental health and wellbeing reasons. This rises to almost two thirds (64%) amongst 18-34 year olds. While physical health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10],"tags":[42,26],"class_list":["post-1247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ambius-uk","category-biophilia","tag-biophilia","tag-office-plants"],"yoast_head":"\nWorkers Mental Health and Return to Work - Ambius UK Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As workers return, physical safety and hygiene are key, but mental health remains a priority. 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