Work stress is low on this island – but the cracks are starting to show. Here’s what might help...
When it comes to work-related health problems, Cyprus is amongst Europe’s best!
According to the most recent EU report, just four per cent of us have health issues that are caused or worsened by our jobs.
It’s a figure that places our island 22nd out of 30 nations; well below the EU average of 10 per cent. Only Greece and Romania (both 3 per cent), Hungary (2.5 per cent), Malta (2 per cent) and Lithuania (1.8 per cent) report fewer work-related health issues.
Now, before we pat ourselves on the back, it is worth considering the complexities behind the stats: the authors themselves note that the study was self-reporting, and that fewer problems might just be reflective of cultural differences in how people perceive and report their health. Because, when it comes to mental wellbeing at work, the data goes a bit wobbly.
Cyprus still scores very low on work-related stress, depression or anxiety (less than 0.5 per cent, compared with none per cent in Sweden). But the same report suggests that nearly 49 per cent of Cypriot employees reported evidence of mental health risk factors in the workplace (above the EU average of 45 per cent). Is, one wonders, the dam about to burst?
Interestingly, we’re one of only four nations (the others being Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Greece) in which men report a higher exposure to mental health risks than women. Quite why that is, the study’s authors don’t clarify – though they do get rather long-winded about agricultural versus office work. Could it, perhaps, be economics? After all, if men are still expected to be the primary earners in these countries, then the high cost of living (Luxembourg and Switzerland) and recent economic instability (Greece and Cyprus) could be placing a disproportionate burden of financial pressure on men.
To sum up, Cyprus has fewer work-related physical health problems than the majority of European countries. Though our mental health could, it seems, use a little help. Either way, says Kuba Bielecki, there’s something quite simple that could help shift the balance…
“Quite literally, we’re offering a breath of fresh air,” he smiles. “Our company, Greenday, is pioneering something that nobody else on the island is doing…”
Kuba and his wife Kamila arrived on the island last year. Professionals in their mid-30s, they left Poland for a warmer life in Cyprus: moving from the historic town of Wroclaw to the village of Maroni.
“There we were,” says Kuba, “walking our dog through the winter snow – dirty, tired, and cold – when we decided we needed some Mediterranean warmth in our lives. Poland,” he adds, “is not quite the picturesque winter wonderland you imagine. And Kamila and I needed a change…”
A journalist and copywriter, Kuba was able to continue working remotely. Kamila wasn’t – but as an expert interior designer, she quickly secured a job in Limassol. And it’s there that she discovered Cyprus lacked something she’d seen in every other country in Europe: office plants.
“Kamila’s mother was a master florist, so she was raised with an extensive knowledge of flora,” explains her husband, adding that his wife knows the Latin names for every plant in the botanical lexicon. “I don’t have quite her knowledge, but I’ve always been a keen gardener and a superb organiser. So we pooled our skills and started Greenday.”

Possibly the first of its kind on the island, Greenday offers a full office plant service.
“First, we visit the office and check the on-site conditions,” Kuba explains. “We assess what plants are suitable; which particular species will thrive in which areas depending on the light, shade and humidity. Then we deliver the plants and planters, and – depending on the size of the installation – either plant on-site or bring them from home.”
The service, however, doesn’t stop there. A team of plant carers then look after the plants, visiting the office – “usually in the early morning, evening and at the weekend,” says Kuba. “We’re the plant ninjas – nobody sees us or hears us” – at least once a week.
“We keep the plants healthy: watering them, refreshing the soil and bedding, pruning and fertilising. And we replace anything that isn’t thriving…
“I’ll tell you a secret,” he whispers. “We would never throw a plant away. Anything that isn’t doing so well comes home with us, back to our plant hospital, and is nursed back to health. So our house,” he laughs, “is a bit of a jungle. But we love it.”
All the plants are grown from seed here in Cyprus by trusted nurseries. And the planters are custom-made by hand from glass reinforced concrete, a lightweight, durable material that’s extremely eco-friendly. “It’s very important to us that we minimise our carbon footprint,” Kuba explains. “Both plants and planters are locally sourced, and selected to thrive in Cyprus.
“Because the last thing you need in a stressful office environment is unhealthy plants. But bring in the right greenery and you make a world of difference – not just to the overall vibe, but also to the health of staff…”
This is where workplace stress comes in.
“There are numerous studies that prove plants make you happier,” says Kuba. “When you’re working in a green environment, your blood pressure drops, and you feel calmer. Plants also purify the air, reducing airborne toxins. And when placed correctly, they improve acoustics, decreasing noise levels.”
This has been a game-changer, he adds, for many of the companies that have already secured Greenday’s services – particularly FOREX firms, where a high-pressure atmosphere is the norm.
“But any office can benefit from plants,” Kuba notes. “They’re versatile and functional, acting as natural dividers between desks or workspaces while adding a touch of serenity to any environment.”
It’s an idea that is common across Europe – where employees with higher rates of work-related health issues clearly benefit from a little greenery.
“This is a standard service abroad,” Kuba concludes. “But on this island, it’s something very new. And for us, it’s a passion project; it’s our baby. Greenery has always brought life, calm, and focus to people’s lives. It boosts creativity, reduces stress, and fosters wellbeing. In short, plants make joy.
“Isn’t that something,” he asks, “that Cyprus could use more of at work?”
For more information, visit greenday.studio
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