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Boosting workplace stair utilization: a study of incremental reinforcement.
Joseph E Schumacher1, Janice Utley, Lindsay Sutton
1Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL 35205, USA. jschum@uab.edu
Rehabilitation Psychology
|February 27, 2013
Summary
An employer-sponsored incentive program significantly increased stair usage by over 600% in a worksite setting. This behavior-based strategy proved a cost-effective method to boost employee physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Increasing physical activity in the workplace is crucial for employee well-being.
- Traditional methods focusing solely on promotion have shown limited success in increasing stair utilization.
- Behavioral reinforcement strategies are being explored to enhance physical activity interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if an employer-sponsored, behavior-based incentive system can increase stair usage in a worksite.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a points-based reward system for promoting physical activity.
Main Methods:
- An AB (baseline-intervention) design was employed over a 6-month period.
- 216 employees participated in the study.
- Stair utilization was tracked before and after the implementation of the incentive program.
Main Results:
- Total stair transactions increased from 5,070 to 38,900, a rise of over 600%.
- Average daily stair transactions increased from 39 to 301.
- The average cost per member for incentives was $17.55.
Conclusions:
- Worksite stair usage can be effectively increased through incentive programs.
- Behavioral reinforcement strategies complement promotional efforts in promoting physical activity.
- This intervention demonstrates a cost-effective approach to enhancing employee physical activity.
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