UK psychologist Dr Craig Knight will be in Canberra tomorrow to explain why employees who have control over the design and organisation of their personal workspace are happier, healthier and up to 32 per cent more productive.

Research by Dr Knight, who is from the University of Exeter in the UK,  involved more than 2000 office workers and found that by enriching work environments employees are happier, healthier and more than 15 per cent more productive than they are in a lean, depersonalised work environment.

“Space has a massive impact on our comfort, contentment and identity.  When people feel uncomfortable in their surroundings, they are less engaged,” said Dr Knight.

“We consistently found that employees working in environments enriched with plants or artwork, and those who were empowered to realise something of their own identity in their workspaces, felt physically more comfortable at work, identified more with their employers, were more productive and felt more positive about their jobs.”

This is the first in a series of talks in the Tenant Education Series which is hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia and supported by Jones Lang La Salle, Leighton Holdings and interior plantscaping specialist Ambius.

He will also visit Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.