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
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z2w4/flexible-work-the-impact-of-a-new-policy-on-employees-sedentary-behavior-and-physical-activity

Log in to edit

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 33
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Intergenerational living and learning : The value and risks of co-locating retirement villages on secondary school campuses – Evaluating the GrandSchools vision
Trotter, Mark, Sanders, Paul, Lindquist, Marissa, Miller, Evonne, Hajirasouli, Aso, Blake, Andrea, Harrington, Rosamund, Olsen, Heidi, Tyvimaa, Tanja, Pepping, Gert-Jan, Kuys, Suzanne and Drogemuller, Robin. (2022). Intergenerational living and learning : The value and risks of co-locating retirement villages on secondary school campuses – Evaluating the GrandSchools vision. Australasian Journal on Ageing. 41(3), pp. e305-e309. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.13111
“In initiative overload” : Australian perspectives on promoting physical activity in the workplace from diverse industries
Chau, Josephine Y., Engelen, Lina, Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy, Young, Sarah, Olsen, Heidi, Gilson, Nicholas, Burton, Nicola W., Bauman, Adrian E. and Brown, Wendy J.. (2019). “In initiative overload” : Australian perspectives on promoting physical activity in the workplace from diverse industries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16(3), p. Article 516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030516
A brief self-directed intervention to reduce office employees’sedentary behavior in a flexible workplace
Olsen, Heidi M., Brown, Wendy J., Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Burton, Nicola W.. (2018). A brief self-directed intervention to reduce office employees’sedentary behavior in a flexible workplace. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 60(10), pp. 954-959. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001389
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a flexible office-based workplace : Employee perceptions and priorities for change
Olsen, Heidi M., Brown, Wendy J., Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy and Burton, Nicola W.. (2018). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a flexible office-based workplace : Employee perceptions and priorities for change. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 29(3), pp. 344-352. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.164