Vortrag von

• Frau Hanne Berthelsen und Frau Tuija Muhonen, Universität Malmö

Examining the Consequences of Introducing Activity-Based Flexible Offices on the Physical and Psychosocial Work Environment in Academia

During recent decades, Activity-Based Flexible Offices (AFOs) gained popularity in both private companies and public organizations. Instead of having assigned rooms or desks, employees in AFOs share facilities and office spaces with their coworkers. AFOs have zone-divided open-plan layouts and the employees are expected to move between different zones depending on the current task.  Many companies and organizations are facing the question of the best design for their office spaces. Further, the pandemic has led to more flexible work arrangements and has once again opened the discussion about the function and significance of the physical workplace.

In our research, we have followed the changes in physical and psychosocial work environment among academic staff when being relocated to activity-based flexible offices. During this seminar we will highlight some main findings from follow-up-surveys and interviews conducted at two Swedish universities. In conclusion, our findings raise questions about the suitability of AFOs in their current configuration for providing an optimal work environment for staff and their performance in academic settings.