The Effects of Walking while Working on Productivity and Health: A Field Experiment

Avner Ben-Ner (), Darla Flint Paulson, Gabriel Koepp () and James Levine ()
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Darla Flint Paulson: School of Public Policy, University of Texas-Arlington
Gabriel Koepp: Mayo School of Medicine
James Levine: Mayo School of Medicine

No 1207, Working Papers from Departament Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Abstract: Lack of physical activity can cause health problems and diminish organizational productivity. We conducted a 12-months long field experiment in a financial services company to study the effects of slow-moving treadmills outfitted for office work on employee productivity and health. 43 sedentary volunteers were assigned randomly to two groups to receive treadmill workstations 7 months apart. Employees could opt at will for standard chair-desk arrangement. Biometric measurements were taken quarterly and weekly online performance surveys were administered to study participants and to more than 200 non-participants and their supervisors. In this study we explore three questions concerning the effects of the introduction of treadmills in the workplace. (1) Does it improve overall physical activity? (2) Does it improve health measures? (3) Does it improve performance? The answers are as follows. (1) Yes (net effect of almost half an hour a day). (2) Yes (small gains, one minor decline). (3) No and yes (initial decline followed by increase to recover to initial level within one year) – based on weekly employee self reports.

Pages: 47 pages
Date: 2012-05, Revised 2012-05
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Published in Working Papers at the Department of Business, May pages 1-47

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