How Does Exercising At Work Influence Work Productivity? A Randomised Cross-over Trial

Abstract

Worksites provide employees with important opportunities for regular involvement in physical activity. However, there is a lack of evidence showing how use of company exercise facilities contributes to employee performance. PURPOSE To identify effects of work-based physical activity on performance of office workers. METHODS Volunteer employees who used work-based gymnasia were recruited to this randomised cross-over study (using random numbers with block allocation). Randomisation allocated the order of completing the questionnaire: starting Exercise (Ex) or Non-exercise (NEx) day. At the end of each working day participants completed and returned a questionnaire comprising three validated performance subscales. Responses were provided on a 7-point scale (1=Difficult 80–100% of the time, 7= Easy 80–100% of the time). RESULTS The gap between returning questionnaires averaged 4.89 (SD 3.53) days. Based on NEx scores, respondents were charactised by high performance scores. Work-based exercising was dominated by class-based aerobics lasting 45–60 minutes. Trial effects, based on subscale differences (NEx - Ex), were identified for 81 respondents (47 females, 58.0%). Paired t-tests showed that performance was consistently and significantly higher (Mean difference (SD) [range]) on the Exercise Days; Managing time demands +2.20 (4.03) [2–14], Mental-Interpersonal performance +3.09 (6.26) [5–35], Managing output demands +2.50 (4.70) [3–21], all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These small but consistently positive performance effects underline the value of providing work-based exercise facilities for sedentary office employees with high baseline estimates of their performance. The statistical power of these findings is amplified within the cross-over design.