Flexible Work: The Impact of a New Policy on Employees' Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity

Overview

Journal J Occup Environ Med

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2017 Oct 13

PMID 29023342

Citations 8

Authors

Heidi M Olsen

Wendy J Brown

Tracy Kolbe-Alexander

Nicola W Burton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess change in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in office-based employees after the implementation of a flexible work policy that allowed working at home.

Methods: A total of 24 employees (62% female; 40 ± 10 years) completed an online questionnaire 4 weeks pre- and 6 weeks post-implementation of the policy. Changes in PA and SB were assessed using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results: There were no changes in PA after the introduction of the flexible work policy (Z = -0.29, P > 0.05). Sitting time increased on days the employees worked at home (Z = -2.02, P > 0.05) and on days they worked at the office (Z = -4.16, P > 0.001).

Conclusions: A flexible work policy may have had a negative impact on sedentary behavior in this workplace. Future work is needed to explore the potential impact on workplace sitting time.

Citing Articles

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Morton S, Fitzsimons C, Sivaramakrishnan D, Jepson R, Niven A BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):1516.

PMID: 38844904 PMC: 11155077. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18892-1.

The Importance of Research on Occupational Sedentary Behaviour and Activity Right Now.

Clark B, Brakenridge C, Healy G Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(23).

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"Are We Working (Too) Comfortably?": Understanding the Nature of and Factors Associated with Sedentary Behaviour When Working in the Home Environment.

Niven A, Baker G, Almeida E, Fawkner S, Jepson R, Manner J Occup Health Sci. 2022; 7(1):71-88.

PMID: 36465155 PMC: 9708134. DOI: 10.1007/s41542-022-00128-6.

What works to reduce sedentary behavior in the office, and could these intervention components transfer to the home working environment?: A rapid review and transferability appraisal.

Morton S, Fitzsimons C, Jepson R, Saunders D, Sivaramakrishnan D, Niven A Front Sports Act Living. 2022; 4:954639.

PMID: 35966113 PMC: 9372484. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.954639.

Workplace Physical Activity Barriers and Facilitators: A Qualitative Study Based on Employees Physical Activity Levels.

Safi A, Cole M, Kelly A, Zariwala M, Walker N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(15).

PMID: 35954798 PMC: 9367711. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159442.