The relationship between worker's work style and wellness in activity-based working (ABW) offices

Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Abstract. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese companies increasingly adopt Activity Based Working (ABW) to achieve employee well-being and innovation acceleration through enhanced communication, but previous research relied primarily on subjective worker perceptions to measure ABW effectiveness without objective validation methods. This study objectively evaluates ABW implementation by examining complex relationships between worker attributes, communication patterns, Organizational Climate, Transactive Memory Systems (TMS), and wellness (combining health and intellectual productivity) in a Technology Innovation Center (TIC) specifically designed with ABW principles to foster collaborative innovation. The comprehensive methodology combined detailed questionnaire surveys achieving a robust 76.1% response rate with advanced indoor human sensing technology, establishing four objective ABW indicators: average annual movement frequency, area changes, contact frequency, and number of contacts systematically linked to individual employee IDs for precise behavioral tracking. Survey results revealed exceptionally strong workplace communication and supportive Organizational Climate, with average scores consistently exceeding 70% of maximum points across all measured dimensions. Binary logistic regression analysis using odds ratios as the primary statistical measure demonstrated several statistically significant relationships with practical implications: CASBEE-OHC environmental satisfaction scores correlated strongly with communication support metrics (odds ratios >2.0), workers who changed locations based on psychological rather than architectural factors showed measurably higher contact rates and significantly better external relationships, increased interpersonal contact frequency correlated with improved psychological health as measured by WFun scores, and strong supportive relationships consistently enhanced organizational understanding, TMS effectiveness, work engagement measured by UWES scales, and innovative behavior outcomes. The study conclusively suggests that workers who strategically utilize office spaces based on psychological motivations and personal preferences tend to build substantially better interpersonal relationships across hierarchical levels, leading to measurably improved intellectual productivity and overall wellness outcomes, thereby providing robust objective evidence for ABW effectiveness that transcends traditional subjective assessment limitations.