UBS reduces Office Plants to save costs

UBS saves costs with less office plants. Instead of throwing the plants away, employees may take them home.

Cost reductions sometimes germinate strange blooms as seems the case with UBS. On Wednesday morning, employees at the sites in Zurich and Opfikon received an e-mail with the unusual subject "Do you have a green thumb?". Sender of the e-mail was Group Corporate Services.

As reported by the Swiss newspaper 20 minutes, who have a copy of the email, there is a savings program behind the reduction of indoor plants. "In order to actively support UBS's cost-cutting measures, it was decided to reduce part of our current number of office plants in Switzerland". The plants have been nurtured and cultivated by an external service provider until now.

UBS confirmed the reduction of the number of plants, to date UBS has been very generous with the multitude of plants: "The UBS does not intend to remove all office plants. Here is a balanced cost-benefit ratio" said a spokeswoman in response to 20 minutes.

The UBS does not want to simply dispose of the potted plants. They are to find a new home in the apartments and houses of the employees. The employees can register themselves in an online tool for the plants and later collect them from a nursery in Berikon.

Credit Suisse also took similar steps a few years ago. This was done because plant care was classified as an unjustified cost factor. The CS also allowed employees were also allowed to take the plants home with them.

SUISHARE opinion: it seems trivial on one hand, but we agree that at a certain volume it can be an unnecessary cost. Also involved is a question of employee well-being. In many offices employees bring and tend to their own personal office plants. With Activity Based Working / desk sharing personal plants may not be feasible and the occasional company plant may be a welcome connection to nature.