Flexible work : The impact of a new policy on employees’ sedentary behavior and physical activity

Journal article

Olsen, Heidi M., Brown, Wendy J., Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Burton, Nicola W.. (2018). Flexible work : The impact of a new policy on employees’ sedentary behavior and physical activity. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 60(1), pp. 23-28. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001190
AuthorsOlsen, Heidi M., Brown, Wendy J., Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Burton, Nicola W.
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.

Year2018
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Journal citation60 (1), pp. 23-28
PublisherLippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISSN1076-2752
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001190
PubMed ID29023342
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85033561481
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
OnlineJan 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited22 Jun 2023
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