Beyond the office walls

Student: Mistral Govers

Partner: Workplace Vitality Hub

Coach: Frank Bauman

Inspiring outdoor work for juniors from the Workplace Vitality Hub

Many office workers spend most of their time indoors with little sunlight, which can harm mood, focus, sleep, and mental health, and increase the risk of depression over time. Still, many office workers avoid going outside during the workday due to social norms. They may feel uncomfortable being alone or because others stay inside. Outdoor work is not yet widely accepted in workplace culture.

Many office workers want a more informal, engaging motivation to go outside—preferably with colleagues. One promising approach to encourage this behavior is the use of gamification. By introducing outdoor challenges in which colleagues can participate and compete in a playful manner, being outdoors becomes more attractive and socially accepted.

Research focus

This study explores how junior office workers can be encouraged to go outside during the workday by focusing on the social norms that prevail in office environments.