In the life science industry where long hours are the norm, the impact of a healthy workplace setting can be underestimated. Yet access to green spaces and clean air at work is more than just a perk, it’s a powerful driver of employee well-being, productivity, and creativity. Whether it’s a view of trees outside a window, a nearby park for breaks, thoughtfully placed indoor plants, and/or well-designed ventilation systems, these elements can reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall job satisfaction. As organizations rethink what it means to support their employees, integrating nature and clean air into the workplace is quickly becoming not just desirable, but essential. Momentum is growing behind the movement to bring more greenery into the workplace, with research backing the positive effects.
In a study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, employees were provided with opportunities to work outdoors and then interviewed about their experience. Many responded that they felt more at peace and felt an increased sociability with colleagues. Employees also reported on what made it easier to work outside and most responded along the themes of outdoor access having “simplicity,” “safeness,” and “comfort.”
While not all jobs have opportunities to work outdoors, the environment that most employees work in can still be improved. Two certification programs, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL (WELL Building Standard), offer a framework for how to create a healthier work environment.
LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, established by the U.S. Green Building Council. It provides a plan for design, construction, and maintenance of buildings leading to healthy, efficient, and cost-effective operations. Buildings are awarded various levels of certification (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based on a point system from categories that include water, energy, materials, sustainability, and indoor environmental quality.
While LEED focuses more on the building’s impact on the environment, WELL was developed to address a building’s effect on people. WELL prides itself on its core tenets being evidence based, verifiable, implementable, and feedback focused. With a certification system similar to LEED (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) dictated by points, it includes categories focusing on topics such as air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community, and innovation.
Though not all companies have a say in the construction of the building(s) they occupy, prioritizing spaces that have these certifications already in place will make it easier to implement a healthy environment for their employees from the start. Healthy and happy employees are more efficient, loyal, and are much more likely to stay long-term.
This blog was written by members of Safety Partners’ Sustainability Team.
