# Perceptions of activity-based offices are associated with employee well-being and self-reported work ability in hybrid work: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study shows that employees who like their activity-based office environment report better well-being and work ability, even when working hybrid.

## Contribution

The study reveals that positive perceptions of activity-based offices are linked to improved well-being and work ability, independent of telework frequency and psychosocial factors.

## Key findings

- Favorable perceptions of activity-based offices are associated with better employee well-being and work ability.
- Satisfaction with the office environment and perceived task privacy are linked to higher work engagement and lower burnout risk.
- These associations remain significant even after accounting for telework and psychosocial factors like effort–reward imbalance.

## Abstract

Key points:

What is already known on this topic: Flexible, space-efficient, activity-based offices (ABOs) have become more common in knowledge work. ABOs typically have nonassigned workstations in shared open and enclosed workspaces so that employees can change workstations for different work tasks. Office layout can affect employees’ well-being: For example, open-plan offices are prone to more distractions and poorer well-being. However, research on how modern office design is associated with employee health and work ability is lacking.
What this study adds: Favorable perceptions of the ABO environment are related to better employee well-being and work ability in hybrid work. Satisfaction with the office environment and positively perceived task privacy are associated with higher work engagement, better recovery and work ability, lower burnout risk, and fewer insomnia symptoms. How the office environment is perceived is important, as these associations remained even when telework frequency and effort–reward imbalance as a psychosocial factor were accounted for in the analyses.
How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: Employees’ needs and perceptions of premises must be considered when developing the office environment. The perceived environment in ABOs is associated with occupational well-being and work ability, which highlights that occupational health and safety actors’ support is important for organizations and work communities when workspace changes are being made. Employees with reduced work ability may need additional support in ABOs. Our findings emphasize the need for research from the occupational health perspective to explore how employee health and work ability are affected by modern office designs.

What is already known on this topic: Flexible, space-efficient, activity-based offices (ABOs) have become more common in knowledge work. ABOs typically have nonassigned workstations in shared open and enclosed workspaces so that employees can change workstations for different work tasks. Office layout can affect employees’ well-being: For example, open-plan offices are prone to more distractions and poorer well-being. However, research on how modern office design is associated with employee health and work ability is lacking.

What this study adds: Favorable perceptions of the ABO environment are related to better employee well-being and work ability in hybrid work. Satisfaction with the office environment and positively perceived task privacy are associated with higher work engagement, better recovery and work ability, lower burnout risk, and fewer insomnia symptoms. How the office environment is perceived is important, as these associations remained even when telework frequency and effort–reward imbalance as a psychosocial factor were accounted for in the analyses.

How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: Employees’ needs and perceptions of premises must be considered when developing the office environment. The perceived environment in ABOs is associated with occupational well-being and work ability, which highlights that occupational health and safety actors’ support is important for organizations and work communities when workspace changes are being made. Employees with reduced work ability may need additional support in ABOs. Our findings emphasize the need for research from the occupational health perspective to explore how employee health and work ability are affected by modern office designs.