Nature breaks for employee/ entrepreneur wellbeing & recovery
- May 13
- 2 min read
This showcase research symposium presented at the Academy of Management Conference explores the impact of biophilia on work by bringing together researchers. Our study is in partnership with entrepreneurs all over the globe. We presented findings of how entrepreneurs taking nature breaks during work experience this in distinct ways, creating recovery profiles.
Symposium title: The Biophilia Effect: Expanding Green Horizons in a Global Workplace
Symposium organizers: Ian Obus Siderits, Lin Jiang, J. Jeffrey Gish, Elizabeth Embry
Symposium overview: This symposium explores the growing evidence that nature contact -- ranging from biophilic office design to immersive outdoor experiences -- may exert profound effects on employee well-being, work engagement, and organizational outcomes. As rapid urbanization continues to limit daily exposure to natural elements, research increasingly points to nature as a powerful yet underexamined resource for sustainable management practice. In this session, five presentations illuminate multiple facets of the “Biophilia Effect.” First, we see how even simple interventions, such as workplace greenery, boost employee energy and dedication. Next, we learn how entrepreneurs and boundaryless workers may strategically leverage nature for real-time recovery. We then turn to an ethnographic study that reveals how specific environmental contexts (e.g., remote islands, mountainous terrain) mold employees’ work-life boundaries. A fourth paper uncovers moral complexities in (animal) caregiving professions, where necessary evils can cause psychological and ethical tension. Finally, we broaden our view by examining user acceptance of wooden housing, underscoring how green innovations can shape both corporate strategies and societal well-being. Collectively, these papers provide timely, high-impact insights for scholars across OB, ONE, and SIM, illustrating how nature-based approaches can enrich individuals’ work experiences, advance sustainable organizational practices, and foster responsible management in a globalized world.
Citation: Gish, J.J., Stephan, U., Carr, J., Lassu, R.A., Burrows, S., Pollack, J. (2025). Detachment vs. Absorption in Nature: A Person-Centered Approach to Employee Recovery Breaks. Academy of Management Annual Meeting. 25-29 August, 2025. Copenhagen, Denmark.
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