Employee wellness and health are at the top of the agenda for leading global travel service provider Trip.com.
With company policies that provide childcare subsidies and flexible working options, the pro-family organisation works hard to be inclusive and support its diverse workforce.
Given their positive wellbeing effects, it’s no surprise therefore to find live plants gracing the floor space of the company’s Edinburgh office.
Colette Adamson, office manager, EDICC, said: “Our office is fairly dark and we wanted to bring some life into the space.
“The feedback [from staff] we have received has been fantastic, the impact has been much more significant than we expected.”
Due to hybrid working, the office generally welcomes approximately 130 team members each day, but around 260 employees call the Lochrin Square location their base. From the Fountainbridge contact centre, the team delivers services in 12 different languages across the EU, and each agent is able to speak at least two tongues, with some able to converse in four or five.
Crossing the threshold, the energy in the office is palpable, as multilingual agents chatter on phones with bright smiles and happy demeanours, while staff greet each other with enthusiasm and a genuine bon amie.
But at times work can be stressful and in such a high-octane environment live plants play a critical role creating a sense of calmness and serenity.
Aglaonema, spathiphyllum, dracaena, calathea and strelitzia are just some of the plants filling containers in a variety of shapes and sizes, strategically placed around the office floor.
Quiet spaces offer staff a place to relax surrounded by greenery and a games room, about to undergo a refurbishment, features planting as an important element in the redesign.
In the last few years, Trip.com have expanded rapidly, now employing over 30,000 people across 30 countries. Demonstrating the provision of a fantastic working environment is key for the growing organisation when it comes to attracting new employees and plants are a central part of that strategy. Not only does the installation of greenery bring numerous proven benefits to the office environment including cleaner air, increased humidity and a reduction in noise, the presence of plants also sends a clear message of care and appreciation.
For office manager Colette, creating a vibrant and healthy working environment which supports the needs of an extremely busy team is a priority. The addition of live plants brings tranquillity and peace and allows staff to connect with nature, facilitating positive emotions.
And when talking travel all day, what better way to bring on the holiday vibe than surrounding the team with tropical foliage.
