Productivity, Satisfaction, Work Environment and Health after Relocation to an Activity-Based Flex Office-The Active...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Psychology
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Activity-based flex offices (AFOs) are increasingly adopted in modern workplaces.
• Evaluating the impact of AFOs on employee well-being and performance is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of AFOs on perceived productivity, satisfaction, work environment, and health.
• To compare outcomes between employees in AFOs and traditional cell offices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized longitudinal, quasi-experimental data from the Active Office Design Study.
• Collected questionnaire data at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months post-relocation.
• Analyzed data from a public organization that relocated staff to either AFOs or cell offices.

Main Results:

• Employees in AFOs reported decreased productivity and satisfaction, citing lack of privacy and increased noise.
• Reduced satisfaction with sit comfort and work posture were noted in AFO environments.
• Productivity declined for tasks requiring high concentration but remained high for teamwork-intensive roles.
• No significant differences in general health, cognitive stress, or pain were found between office types.

Conclusions:

• Work characteristics must be considered during AFO planning and implementation.
• AFOs are better suited for flexible and interactive tasks, less so for tasks demanding concentration.
• Tailoring office design to specific work requirements is essential for optimizing employee experience and performance.