Physical inactivity and prolonged periods of sitting are prevalent among office workers, posing significant health risks and economic burdens. To mitigate these issues, it is essential to look beyond health promotion interventions and consider the workplace design as a factor that encourages active employee engagement. Frameworks like the socio-ecological model emphasize the complex interactions that influence active and passive behaviours, highlighting the physical environment’s crucial role in promoting physical activity at work.
Recent research led by Associate Professor Mohammad Javad Koohsari from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), which included collaborators such as Associate Professor Andrew T. Kaczynski from the University of South Carolina, has identified key gaps in our understanding of how workplace design impacts worker activity levels. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, their study conducted a comprehensive review of existing literature, underscoring the need for further exploration. Dr Koohsari emphasized the significance of workplace norms and physical layout in influencing employee behaviour and highlighted the importance of precise behaviour measurement.
The research team noted that existing studies predominantly focus on Western settings, suggesting a pressing need for cross-cultural studies to ensure the relevance of workplace interventions across different geographical and cultural contexts. Adapting workplace norms to accommodate the shifting dynamics of remote and hybrid work environments also presents a new frontier for research.
To accurately measure active and sedentary behaviours, traditional tools such as GPS and accelerometers, which often provide less accurate data indoors, are insufficient. The team proposes using an Indoor Positioning System (IPS) that leverages cost-effective Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology for precise indoor tracking. This system can be integrated with activity-tracking wearables to gather comprehensive data on employee movements and activity levels. Combined with Geospatial AI (GeoAI), it can enhance the analysis of movement patterns within office spaces.
Past research has often focused on isolated workplace design elements without considering the overall spatial arrangement of the environment. The study suggests that the entire building layout, including the arrangement of walls, doors, windows, and access routes, plays a pivotal role in defining the functionality of spaces and their impact on worker behaviour. Dr. Koohsari advocates using space syntax theory, which employs graph-based estimators to quantify spatial layouts and explore how various configurations affect employee activity.
As digitalization and automation expand, sedentary behaviours among office workers are expected to increase. In response, Dr Koohsari calls for future studies to examine the interactive effects of workplace norms and culture on behaviour, conduct cross-cultural studies to uncover similarities and differences across settings and employ innovative measurement methods. Moreover, exploring the influence of spatial layout using space syntax can offer valuable insights into designing work environments that naturally promote active and engaging behaviours.
More information: Mohammad Javad Koohsari et al, Active workplace design: current gaps and future pathways, British Journal of Sports Medicine. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108146
Journal information: British Journal of Sports Medicine Provided by Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology