Effect of the Work Environment on Using Time at Work to Exercise

Bale, Jeffrey M.; Gazmararian, Julie A.; Elon, Lisa

doi:10.4278/ajhp.130731-quan-393

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Bale et al (2015) conducted a quantitative analysis of environmental barriers to 30 minutes of daily exercise provided in paid work time. (38) They found that those who reported having too much work were three times less likely to use their PA time than others who reported having more manageable workloads. Managers in the present study also noted a similar concern with regards to the potential cost of lost time with employees potentially working less time each day.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

Ryde

Atkinson

Stead

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Poor physical and mental health of employees create significant problems in the workplace. Physical activity (PA) has been shown as an effective strategy for preventing and treating numerous physical and mental health issues as well as work performance outcomes. However, there are many barriers to taking part in PA (such as lack of time) with participation rates typically low. Providing PA in paid work time might be a way to overcome these issues, yet employers’ and employees’ opinions of this concept are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore employee and employer perspectives of PA in paid work time. Methods: Workplaces were recruited through existing contacts on the research team. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with employees and managers at one University and two executive non-departmental public bodies in central Scotland with mainly desk-based employees. Both managers and employees were involved to gain perspectives throughout the organisational hierarchy and were interviewed separately to reduce social desirably bias. All discussions were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed thematically for both managers and employees but due to significant overlap in themes between the groups, these are reported together in the results.Results: Three out of five organisations approached took part in this qualitative study. Two individual interviews were held with strategic managers, five focus groups with middle managers (n=16) and nine with employees (n=45). Benefits were anticipated by managers and employees for both employees themselves and the organisation and included improved mental health, productivity and more favourable perceptions of the employer. Despite these widely acknowledged benefits, significant barriers were identified and included the structure and nature of the working day (high workload, front line job requirements), workplace culture and norms (resentment from colleagues, no break culture) and organisational concerns (cost of lost time, public perceptions). Conclusion: This study suggests that there are significant barriers to PA in paid work time. Whilst numerous anticipated benefits were conveyed by both employees and managers, PA in paid work time is unlikely to become common place until changes in attitudes and the culture towards movement at work occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

Ryde

Atkinson

Stead

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When discussing potential barriers of PA in paid work time for employees, high workload was noted as the most significant barrier across all workplaces and employees. Bale et al (2015) conducted a quantitative analysis of environmental barriers to 30 min of daily exercise provided in paid work time [38]. They found that those who reported having too much work were three times less likely to use their PA time than others who reported having more manageable workloads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Poor physical and mental health of employees create significant problems in the workplace. Physical activity (PA) has been shown as an effective strategy for preventing and treating numerous physical and mental health issues as well as work performance outcomes. However, there are many barriers to taking part in PA (such as lack of time) with participation rates typically low. Providing PA in paid work time might be a way to overcome these issues, yet employers' and employees' opinions of this concept are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore employee and employer perspectives of PA in paid work time. Methods: Workplaces were recruited through existing contacts on the research team. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with employees and managers at one University and two executive non-departmental public bodies in central Scotland with mainly desk-based employees. Both managers and employees were involved to gain perspectives throughout the organisational hierarchy and were interviewed separately to reduce social desirability bias. All discussions were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed thematically for both managers and employees but due to significant overlap in themes between the groups, these are reported together in the results. Results: Three out of five organisations approached took part in this qualitative study. Two individual interviews were held with strategic managers, five focus groups with middle managers (n = 16) and nine with employees (n = 45). Benefits were anticipated by managers and employees for both employees themselves and the organisation and included improved mental health, productivity and more favourable perceptions of the employer. Despite these widely acknowledged benefits, significant barriers were identified and included the structure and nature of the working day (high workload, front line job requirements), workplace culture and norms (resentment from colleagues, no break culture) and organisational concerns (cost of lost time, public perceptions). Conclusion: This study suggests that there are significant barriers to PA in paid work time. Whilst numerous anticipated benefits were conveyed by both employees and managers, PA in paid work time is unlikely to become common place until changes in attitudes and the culture towards movement at work occur.

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“…For example, managerial support for employees to participate during work time has been shown to be associated with a higher likelihood of participation in physical activity programs. 27 From an implementation perspective, respondents were more likely to participate if they felt they were consulted, that the programs were relevant or interesting, helpful or convenient to participate in. Relatively few respondents reported that they were consulted, despite consultation being a key implementation strategy that agencies were recommended to use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and facilitators to participation in workplace health promotion (WHP) activities: results from a cross‐sectional survey of public‐sector employees in Tasmania, Australia

Kilpatrick

Blizzard

Sanderson

et al. 2017

Health Prom J of Aust

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Issue addressed Workplaces are promising settings for health promotion, yet employee participation in workplace health promotion (WHP) activities is often low or variable. This study explored facilitating factors and barriers associated with participation in WHP activities that formed part of a comprehensive WHP initiative run within the Tasmanian State Service (TSS) between 2009 and 2013. Methods TSS employee (n=3228) completed surveys in 2013. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, employee-perceived availability of WHP activities, employee-reported participation in WHP activities, and facilitators and barriers to participation. Ordinal log-link regression was used in cross-sectional analyses. Results Significant associations were found for all facilitating factors and participation. Respondents who felt their organisation placed a high priority on WHP, who believed that management supported participation or that the activities could improve their health were more likely to participate. Time- and health-related barriers were associated with participation in fewer activities. All associations were independent of age, sex, work schedule and employee-perceived availability of programs. Part-time and shift-work patterns, and location of activities were additionally identified barriers. Conclusion Facilitating factors relating to implementation, peer and environmental support, were associated with participation in more types of activities, time- and health-related barriers were associated with less participation. So what? Large and diverse organisations should ensure WHP efforts have manager support and adopt flexible approaches to maximise employee engagement.

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Effect of the Work Environment on Using Time at Work to Exercise

Abstract: The results support the hypothesis that individuals with a supportive work environment would be more likely to use time at work to exercise. Workload and having time during the day are more important than job satisfaction.

Cited by 25 publications

References 22 publications

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives

Barriers and facilitators to participation in workplace health promotion (WHP) activities: results from a cross‐sectional survey of public‐sector employees in Tasmania, Australia

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