Outdoor Office Work - An Interactive Research Project Showing the Way Out

Area of Science:

• Workplace studies
• Environmental psychology
• Organizational behavior

Background:

• Modern office work transcends traditional physical boundaries, extending to various off-site locations.
• Despite increased flexibility, a strong normative boundary often restricts office work to indoor environments.
• The potential of outdoor office work remains underexplored, particularly concerning employee experiences and enabling conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and experiences of conducting office work outdoors.
• To identify the contextual preconditions necessary for successful outdoor office work.
• To understand employee perceptions and the impact on well-being and work practices.

Main Methods:

• A two-year interactive research project involving a Swedish municipality.
• Data collection through interviews, group discussions, and a custom mobile application.
• Involved 58 participants in workshops, co-interviews, and independent experimentation with outdoor work.

Main Results:

• A diverse range of office tasks can be performed effectively outdoors, individually or collaboratively.
• Outdoor work yielded positive experiences including well-being, recovery, autonomy, enhanced cognition, and improved social relations.
• Challenges included feelings of guilt and illegitimacy, alongside identified needs for supportive physical, sociocultural, and organizational environments.

Conclusions:

• Outdoor office work offers significant benefits but faces cultural and organizational barriers.
• Proximity to urban green spaces and supportive management attitudes are crucial for success.
• Collaboration between leaders, urban planners, and policymakers is essential to facilitate the integration of outdoor work into modern working life.