Does an 'activity-permissive' workplace change office workers' sitting and activity time?

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Public Health

Background:

• Traditional office environments often promote prolonged sitting.
• Workplace design significantly influences employee physical activity levels.
• Understanding the impact of environmental changes on worker behavior is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in physical activity, health, and work outcomes after transitioning to an 'activity-permissive' workplace.
• To quantify the impact of a movement-oriented physical environment on office workers.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post natural experiment design was employed in Vancouver, Canada.
• Office workers (n=24) were monitored before and after relocating to a new workplace.
• Measures included workplace physical activity (sitting, standing, stepping), body composition, cardio-metabolic markers, and work performance/satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Workers significantly increased standing time (+18.5 minutes/8-hr workday) and reduced sitting time (-19.7 minutes/8-hr workday).
• No significant changes were observed in stepping time, body composition, cardio-metabolic health markers, or work-related outcomes.
• The 'activity-permissive' environment primarily influenced standing and sitting durations.

Conclusions:

• The physical workplace environment can positively influence standing time among office workers.
• The long-term health and work-related benefits require further investigation.
• Individual, organizational, and social factors may mediate the observed changes.