NEWS
BR IEFING
Keep up to date with the latest news surrounding the role of the EA
Office plants have a proven impact on stress
according to scientists
Researchers from the University of
Hyogo in Japan have published a new
study that suggests bringing plants
into an office environment has a real,
positive impact on the mental health of
employees.
“At present, not many people fully
understand and utilise the benefit of
stress recovery brought by plants in the
workplace,” lead researcher Masahiro
Toyoda said. “To improve such
situations, we decided it essential to
verify and provide scientific evidence
for the stress restorative effect by
nearby plants in a real office setting.”
The researchers tested the theory
on over 60 different people, across
multiple offices in Japan. The subjects’
anxiety and stress levels were recorded
initially for a control period without
plants.
Afterward, the subjects were asked
to care for a small plant and take short,
three minute breaks if they found
themselves stressed or overwhelmed.
Using a measurement called
the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,
researchers found that the workers
were less stressed and fatigued after
the introduction of greenery. Also,
the subjects’ anxiety levels dropped
notably, suggesting that indoor plants
and flora have a calming effect. S
EA arrested for skimming $850,000 from US company
In a town just south of Chicago,
Illinois, police officers have arrested
an EA for various counts of theft
and forgery after she allegedly stole
$850,000 from her employer over
nearly four years of employment.
Jennifer Ramos was working as an
EA for Bunge North America Loders-
Croklaan—a vegetable oil production
company—when she allegedly used the
12 Chief of Staff | Issue 1 2020
company’s expense reporting system to
misappropriate funds.
An internal investigation in
cooperation with local police revealed
that Ramos had been purchasing
airline tickets and hotel rooms for
her colleagues online, printing the
online purchase invoices and then
cancelling the reservations. Once the
reservations were cancelled, Ramos
reportedly created and filed expense
reports with the printed invoices,
which the company reimbursed then
to her personally. Using this process, it
is alleged that Ramos received in excess
of $850,000.
Often—the police report states—
Ramos cancelled the reservations just
minutes after they were made. The
investigation is ongoing. S