Abstract
The redesign of the physical workplace according to activity-based working (ABW) principles has potential to influence employee health and workplace outcomes. This natural experiment examined changes in accelerometer-derived workplace activity, self-reported eating behaviours, productivity, workplace satisfaction before (March to November 2014) and six to nine months after moving to an ABW workplace compared to a comparison workplace (n = 146 at baseline (56% ABW, aged 40.1 ± 8.5 years, 72% female). Interviews were also conducted with 21 ABW participants. Between- and within-group differences were examined and mixed model analysis examined intervention effects over time. Effect sizes were calculated on change scores (Cohen’s d). Although not statistically significant, ABW participants had meaningful improvements in workday sedentary time, light-, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, job satisfaction and relationship with co-workers (d = 0.379–0.577), and small declines in productivity (d = 0.278). There were significant, meaningful, and beneficial intervention effects on perceived organisational support for being active in the workplace, frequency of eating lunch with colleagues, and satisfaction with the physical environment in ABW compared to comparison participants (d = 0.501–0.839). Qualitative data suggested that ABW employees associated ABW with greater opportunities for movement and collaboration, but had mixed views on the impact on productivity. Future research with larger samples and over longer follow-up periods is warranted.
Highlights
Inadequate physical activity and high amounts of sitting contribute to an array of chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and associated participation in detrimental health behaviours, such as poor diet [1,2]
While the literature examining the impact of ABW design on workplace movement is still in its infancy, the findings provide preliminary indications that the physical environment is important for workplace movement and productivity
There were no significant differences in sex, age, or baseline time spent sedentary, in light, or moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity between participants that had valid accelerometer at baseline and follow-up and those who only provided baseline data
Summary
Inadequate physical activity and high amounts of sitting contribute to an array of chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and associated participation in detrimental health behaviours, such as poor diet [1,2]. A key setting in which to address these behaviours is the workplace [3]. On average, office-based workers spend 75% of their workday sitting [4,5], with much of this time accrued in prolonged, unbroken bouts [6] which may be. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1005; doi:10.3390/ijerph15051005 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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