Sick Building Syndrome is a real thing. It is a phenomenon caused by dry air, air-conditioning, and toxins and germs floating around a space unhindered. This can cause occupants to feel unwell, leading to absenteeism and poor mental health.
Symptoms can include:
- Headaches
- Blocked or runny nose
- Dry, itchy skin
- Dry, sore eyes
- Rashes
- Tiredness and difficulty concentrating
Productivity suffers and sick leave rises, and businesses find themselves struggling with staff morale and retention.
Plants are an ideal way to combat Sick Building Syndrome as they:
- Increase the humidity in the air
- Filter out toxins and germs
- Increase the oxygen level in an office
This shows that even plants alone can combat the effects of Sick Building Syndrome and provide an easy, cost-effective, and flexible way of keeping your staff and office healthy.
Other ways to combat it are:
- make sure the office has access to natural light
- open windows/improve ventilation
- try not to set the temperature too high (aim for about 19 degrees C) and don’t change it lots of times during the day
- try to reduce workplace stress
- encourage regular screen breaks
- encourage staff to venture outdoors for lunch and breaks
If you think this may be affecting your workforce and would like a quick chat about options to combat it, get in touch!
