Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time?
Introduction: To describe changes in workplace physical activity, and health-, and work-related outcomes, in workers who transitioned from a conventional to an 'activity-permissive' workplace. Methods: A natural pre-post experiment conducted in Vancouver, Canada in 2011. A convenience samp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2013
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45052 |
| _version_ | 1848757175258710016 |
|---|---|
| author | Gorman, E. Ashe, M. Dunstan, D. Hanson, H. Madden, K. Winkler, E. McKay, H. Healy, Genevieve |
| author_facet | Gorman, E. Ashe, M. Dunstan, D. Hanson, H. Madden, K. Winkler, E. McKay, H. Healy, Genevieve |
| author_sort | Gorman, E. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: To describe changes in workplace physical activity, and health-, and work-related outcomes, in workers who transitioned from a conventional to an 'activity-permissive' workplace. Methods: A natural pre-post experiment conducted in Vancouver, Canada in 2011. A convenience sample of office-based workers (n=24, 75% women, mean [SD] age = 34.5 [8.1] years) were examined four months following relocation from a conventional workplace (pre) to a newly-constructed, purpose-built, movement-oriented physical environment (post). Workplace activity- (activPAL3-derived stepping, standing, and sitting time), health- (body composition and fasting cardio-metabolic blood profile), and work- (performance; job satisfaction) related outcomes were measured pre- and post-move and compared using paired t-tests. Results: Pre-move, on average (mean [SD]) the majority of the day was spent sitting (364 [43.0] mins/8-hr workday), followed by standing (78.2 [32.1] mins/8-hr workday) and stepping (37.7 [15.6] mins/8-hr workday). The transition to the 'activity-permissive' workplace resulted in a significant increase in standing time (+18.5, 95% CI: 1.8, 35.2 mins/8-hr workday), likely driven by reduced sitting time (-19.7, 95% CI: -42.1, 2.8 mins/8-hr workday) rather than increased stepping time (+1.2, 95% CI: -6.2, 8.5 mins/8-hr workday). There were no statistically significant differences observed in health- or work-related outcomes. Discussion: This novel, opportunistic study demonstrated that the broader workplace physical environment can beneficially impact on standing time in office workers. The long-term health and work-related benefits, and the influence of individual, organizational, and social factors on this change, requires further evaluation. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:23:55Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-45052 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:23:55Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-450522017-09-13T14:19:00Z Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? Gorman, E. Ashe, M. Dunstan, D. Hanson, H. Madden, K. Winkler, E. McKay, H. Healy, Genevieve Introduction: To describe changes in workplace physical activity, and health-, and work-related outcomes, in workers who transitioned from a conventional to an 'activity-permissive' workplace. Methods: A natural pre-post experiment conducted in Vancouver, Canada in 2011. A convenience sample of office-based workers (n=24, 75% women, mean [SD] age = 34.5 [8.1] years) were examined four months following relocation from a conventional workplace (pre) to a newly-constructed, purpose-built, movement-oriented physical environment (post). Workplace activity- (activPAL3-derived stepping, standing, and sitting time), health- (body composition and fasting cardio-metabolic blood profile), and work- (performance; job satisfaction) related outcomes were measured pre- and post-move and compared using paired t-tests. Results: Pre-move, on average (mean [SD]) the majority of the day was spent sitting (364 [43.0] mins/8-hr workday), followed by standing (78.2 [32.1] mins/8-hr workday) and stepping (37.7 [15.6] mins/8-hr workday). The transition to the 'activity-permissive' workplace resulted in a significant increase in standing time (+18.5, 95% CI: 1.8, 35.2 mins/8-hr workday), likely driven by reduced sitting time (-19.7, 95% CI: -42.1, 2.8 mins/8-hr workday) rather than increased stepping time (+1.2, 95% CI: -6.2, 8.5 mins/8-hr workday). There were no statistically significant differences observed in health- or work-related outcomes. Discussion: This novel, opportunistic study demonstrated that the broader workplace physical environment can beneficially impact on standing time in office workers. The long-term health and work-related benefits, and the influence of individual, organizational, and social factors on this change, requires further evaluation. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45052 10.1371/journal.pone.0076723 unknown |
| spellingShingle | Gorman, E. Ashe, M. Dunstan, D. Hanson, H. Madden, K. Winkler, E. McKay, H. Healy, Genevieve Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title | Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title_full | Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title_fullStr | Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title_short | Does an 'Activity-Permissive' Workplace Change Office Workers' Sitting and Activity Time? |
| title_sort | does an 'activity-permissive' workplace change office workers' sitting and activity time? |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/45052 |