Final thesis dissertation presentation http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=03-15-2018&FMT=7&DID=2352241921&RQT=309&attempt=1&cfc=1

1. HAPPY EARTH DAY!
22 April 2011

2. HOLISTIC HEALTH FACTORS in the WORKPLACE:
BIOPHILIA, ERGONOMICS and EXERCISE
April P. McEwan, MSD candidate, industrial desgin, Arizona State University
Rebecca Barry, Committee Member
James Shraiky, Committee Member
Philip White, Chair
derived from: Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

4. PROBLEM
“Something, somewhere went terribly wrong.”
Localoaf.org. “Something, somewhere went terribly wrong”. Retrieved April 16, 2011, from http://www.localoaf.org/page/3/?s=ken
With information and computer-technology demands in the workplace, employees and employers spend
much of their time sitting at computers. Sedentary work can be stressful and harmful for the body and
mind (Congleton, ErgoExpo, 2011).
Research evidence proves that “sitting in a chair itself generates physical problems and deforms the
body” (Cranz, 1998).

5. PROBLEM
Numerous health problems have been associated with sitting for long periods of time: back pain of all
sorts, fatigue, varicose veins, stress, and problems with the diaphragm, circulation, digestion, elimination,
and general body development (Cranz, 1998, p.97).

6. SIGNIFICANCE
Poor working conditions can lead to dissatisfaction and poor health; and therefore reduced performance.
If we do not provide comfortable environments that fulfill base human needs (emotional, social and physi-
cal health) then the building occupants are unlikely to be at their most productive (Oseland,1995, p.246).

7. SIGNIFICANCE
In the Healthy Workforce Act of 2009, Congress stated its findings about the US workforce:
(1) The US has more than 12 million employers and approximately 135 million working adults.
(2) The use of effective worksite policies and programs can reduce health risks and improve the quality of
life for the 135 million full-time and part-time workers in the United States.
(3) Workers spend more than one-third of their day on the job and, as a result, employers are in a unique
position to promote the health and safety of their employees.
(4) Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity, and diabetes are among the most
prevalent and costly worker health problems for most employers.
(5) The use by employers of effective worksite policies and programs can reduce health risks and improve
the quality of life for their employees.
(6) The good health of workers is good for business because healthier workers miss less work, are more
productive, and have lower health care costs.
(Open Congress, 2011)

8. HYPOTHESIS
This research study proposes that employees and employers desire mobility and resources in the work-
place that support holistic health practices involving biophilia, ergonomics, and exercise.
These conditions are significant contributors to well-being and productivity in the workplace.
Perhaps employees and employers will feel healthier, physically, emotionally and socially in environments
with access to natural environments, the outdoors, ergonomic furniture and equipment and exercise,
therefore increasing pleasurable experiences; and in turn, stimulating productivity in the workplace.

9. Holistic health factors considered for purposes of this research study are factors that pertain to emotional,
social and physical well-being: biophilia, ergonomics, and exercise.

10. Specific areas of concentration for this thesis study involve detailed elements of each factor—biophilia,
ergonomics and exercise.

11. BIOPHILIA
EMOTIONAL and SOCIAL HEALTH
peoples’ love and affiliation with other species and the natural environment
It is ultimately human nature and a hereditary desire to have an emotional affiliation with human beings
and other living organisms (Kellert, et al., 1993).

12. BIOPHILIA
EMOTIONAL and SOCIAL HEALTH
Research on biophilia supports the idea that interaction with other species can be healing.
“The absence of plants may suggest an “unnatural”, and thus potentially unsafe, environment;” as plants
may affect the human mind through unconscious mechanisms, even when plants are not the object of
focus (Grinde & Patil, 2009, p.2335).

13. ERGONOMICS
EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL HEALTH
relationship between the human body, mind, movement, the immediate environment and productivity
The International Ergonomics Association states that “ergonomics promotes a holistic approach in which
considerations of physical, cognitive, social, organizational, environmental and other relevant factors are
taken into account” (IEA, 2010, para. 4).
Varier. (2011). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from http://www.varierfurniture.com/Collections/Human-instruments/Variable-balans-R

14. ERGONOMICS
EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL HEALTH
Research has found ergonomic body-conscious furniture and equipment to increase productivity and limit
body aches and pains and health costs.
“Probably the single most important principle of body-conscious design is to use design to keep posture
varied and the body moving” (Cranz, 1998, p. 185).
Varier. (2011). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from http://www.varierfurniture.com/Collections/Human-instruments/Variable-balans-R

15. EXERCISE
EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL HEALTH
exertion of the body to obtain physical fitness
The World Health Organization states that significant health benefits are related to regular physical activity
such as walking and sports activities (2011).

16. EXERCISE
EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL HEALTH
Research has found that exercise stimulates the mind and body, increasing productivity.
“The bodily decrepitude presumed under the myth of aging is both avoidable and reversible” (Hanna,
1988, p. xii).

17. EMOTIONAL HEALTH
BIOPHILIA, ERGONOMICS and EXERCISE
Emotional health has been found to contribute to work success, relationships and health (Diener, King &
Lyubomirsky, 2005).
Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

19. SOCIAL HEALTH
BIOPHILIA
“Past research has identified many factors, such as demographic, task-related, workstation-related, ergo-
nomic, and psychosocial factors, associated with health complaints of employees engaged in sedentary
work” (Waikar & Bradshaw, 1995, p.18).
Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

21. PHYSICAL HEALTH
ERGONOMICS and EXERCISE
Even moving around a little bit more on a daily basis can help maintain healthy body weight and burn
calories (Levine & Yeager, 2009).
Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

23. SCOPE
four small US offices, as case studies
Maricopa County, AZ and Glynn County, GA
financial institutions and private medical practices

24. SCOPE
demand sedentary work
between 1000 and 4000 square feet
employ 3 to 12 personnel
3 participants from each office total (1 employer, 2 employees)

25. METHODOLOGY
flexible and qualitative research study using rapid ethnography
methods: surveys, observations, interviews, pedometer readings
analyzed systematically and thematically
qualitative and quantitative data analysis yielded quantitative and qualitative data organized into
graphs, tables, word clouds, relationship matrixes

26. LIMITATIONS
Participants’ desires were recorded, not necessarily needs. Health, happiness, productivity, motivation,
and work performance of participants and offices were not measured with external measurements in this
research study. Only miles walked were measured externally. Extensive ergonomic assessments of each
office were not performed.

27. 1. Of the holistic health factors—biophilia, ergo-
nomics and exercise—considered in the work-
place, which are valued by employees and em-
ployers in the workplace?
A majority, 10 out of 13, of participants equally valued emotional health, physical health, social health,
and spiritual health.
3 participants valued emotional health over physical, social, and spiritual health, believing all other health
follows emotional health; therefore, biophilia, ergonomics and exercise were all considered to be
valuable to all participants.

28. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

29. 1. Of the holistic health factors—biophilia, ergo-
nomics and exercise—considered in the work-
place, which are valued by employees and em-
ployers in the workplace?
More than half, 8 out of 13 participants, preferred to work in a workplace environment with exercise space
and equipment, serene natural environment with outdoor space, and body-conscious furniture, equip-
ment and workstations.
derved from: Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

30. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

31. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

32. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

33. DISCUSSION
Does climate and geographical location of an office and its personnel affect the desire for plants within
an office?
Maricopa County, AZ, office of rocky and dusty southwest Arizona Sonoran Desert ecosystem with a sub-
tropical arid climate of dessert, succulents and mountains
1 natural plant, 2 artificial plants

34. DISCUSSION
Does climate and geographical location of an office and its personnel affect the desire for plants within
an office?
Maricopa County, AZ, office of rocky and dusty southwest Arizona Sonoran Desert ecosystem with a sub-
tropical arid climate of dessert, succulents and mountains
1 natural plant, 1 artificial plant

35. DISCUSSION
Does climate and geographical location of an office and its personnel affect the desire for plants within
an office?
Glynn County, GA, office of east coast—of a humid subtropical climate, barrier islands, marsh hammocks,
maritime forests, and lush ecosystems
11 natural plants, 0 artificial plants

36. DISCUSSION
Does climate and geographical location of an office and its personnel affect the desire for plants within
an office?
Glynn County, GA, office of east coast—of a humid subtropical climate, barrier islands, marsh hammocks,
maritime forests, and lush ecosystems
13 natural plants, 3 artificial plants

37. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

38. 2. Of the holistic health factors—biophilia, ergo-
nomics and exercise—considered in the work-
place, which are considered by employees and
employers to be the most significant contributors
to productivity in the workplace?
84.62% of participants believed “freedom to move between one social phase and another (from solitary
work to group interaction)” and “music” contributed or would contribute to their personal levels of pro-
ductivity in the workplace.
Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

39. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

40. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

41. 3. Of the holistic health factors—biophilia, ergo-
nomics and exercise—considered in the work-
place, which are considered by employees and
employers to be the most significant contributors
to well-being in the workplace?
More than half (8) participants felt their workplace lacked “opportunity for regular exercise”.
No participants felt that their workplace lacked “meaningful change and sensory variability”.

42. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

43. 4. At what economic cost are employees and
employers willing to implement elements of their
preference of holistic health factor(s) into their
place of work?
More than half (69.23%) of participants were unwilling to sacrifice vacation time, hours, salary or pay cuts
Less than half (30.77%) of participants were willing to sacrifice their hours
Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

44. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS

45. A. How much does each worker currently walk
during a typical work day?
Participants were recorded with pedometer readings to walk from the least mileage of .33 miles per aver-
age work day to the most mileage of 2.66 miles per average work day. The average miles walked during
a typical work day for eight participants were figured to be .78 miles for the less socially active and 1.41
miles for the more socially active. This data shows that the less social participants walked less than the
more social participants in participating workplaces.

46. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS
3 LESS SOCIAL MORE SOCIAL
MORE PHYSICAL MORE PHYSICAL
2.66 W
2.625
2.25
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
PEDOMETER READINGS IN MILES
1.875
1.5
1.4 M
1.1 W 1.28 W
1.125
1.05 W
.71 W .79 W
.75 .72 M
.54 W .67 M
.51 W
.375 .33 M
LESS SOCIAL MORE SOCIAL
LESS PHYSICAL LESS PHYSICAL
0
INTERVIEWS INTROVERTS BORDERLINE EXTROVERTS
OBSERVATIONS LESS TALKATIVE MORE TALKATIVE
LOW HIGH
SOCIAL ACTIVITY
M = Men
W = Women

47. B. What holistic health programs or incentives are
currently in place?
No health programs or incentives were in place in any of the four offices for exercise, weight manage-
ment, alternate transportation to and from work, or pet friendly behaviors.
A small 3 out of 13 participants claimed their employers provided ergonomic furniture and equipment in
the workplace.

48. RESULTS of DATA ANALYSIS
AT YOUR WORKPLACE, WHAT DOES YOUR EMPLOYER SUPPLY,
ENCOURAGE OR OFFER INCENTIVES FOR?
SOCIAlIZING 61.5%
VACATION 61.5%
MUSIC 61.5%
LEAVING THE OFFICE FOR LUNCH 53.8%
PERSONAL ACCESSORIES 38.5%
BREAKS 38.5%
ERGONOMIC FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT 23.1%
OTHER 23.1%
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
PET FRIENDLY BEHAVIORS
EXERCISE
ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM WORK
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
BIOPHILIA
ERGONOMICS
EXERCISE

49. B. What holistic health programs or incentives are
currently in place?
If corporate offices offered incentives and holistic health programs to their franchise owners, perhaps
smaller franchise offices would be more inclined to offer health programs and incentives to their
employees; this is what the two franchise workplaces of this study suggested.

50. C. What are ideal work environments?
When asked to express their ideal workspaces, participants expressed both extreme idealistic work envi-
ronments and minor adjustments to their existing workplaces. Such ideals included categories of: plants,
animals, windows, lighting, space, furniture, art, personal items, environment, color, exercise and food.

51. IDEAL WORKSPACES

52. IDEAL WORKSPACES
SPACE
ENVIRON-
MENT
13 ART
11 2
COLOR PERSONAL
ITEMS
8 2
EXERCISE
IDEAL
WORK
ANIMALS
6 2
ENVIRONMENTS
FOOD OTHER
6 3
WINDOW PLANTS
5 3
FURNITURE LIGHTING
4 3

53. PROVEN HYPOTHESIS
As the hypothesis of this research study proposed, results represent that employees and employers indeed
desire mobility and resources in the workplace that support holistic health practices involving biophilia,
ergonomics, and exercise.
derved from: Steelcase. (n.d.). The movement toward wellness in the workplace. Retrieved April 20, 2011, from www.steelcase.com/ergonomics

54. FUTURE RESEARCH
This study laid a foundation for future studies of workplace health.
Are mandatory breaks needed in workplaces? Some people eat lunch while they work, sacrificing lunch
breaks...
Further research should be explored on the subject of lunch breaks in order to find the most efficient and
proper way to implement exercise and health breaks into workplaces.

55. FUTURE RESEARCH
A future study may collect quantitative data from controlled experiments, monitoring and testing so as to
measure the relationships between holistic health factors and productivity and well-being.

56. FUTURE RESEARCH
Longer studies using trial and error, involving action research, could focus on evidence based design,
comparing productivity and well-being in current workspaces to productivity and well-being in the re-
designed or new work environment adapted to incorporate holistic health practices according to partici-
pants opinions and desires, which have been recognized in the data analysis of this study.

57. FUTURE RESEARCH
Existing body positions at work and reasons for such positions must be explored in order to fully understand
how future research and design can improve workplace health.

58. INFORMING WORKPLACES
Are people aware of their options--the variety of furniture and equipment available?
10 out of 12 participants had not heard of a treadmill workstation.

59. INFORMING WORKPLACES
Although most participants of this study expressed that they would prefer to work seated in an ordinary
chair at a desk of standard height (the accommodations of most participants during the time of the
study) participants may not have had experience with alternative options, consequently; they were not
truly able to express interest in alternative work positions and furniture options.

60. FUTURE RESEARCH
A research study that tests participants work productivity and comfort while comparing various work
positions would shed more light on true workplace personnel ergonomic preferences, making certain
each participant is aware of alternative work positions through experiment experience.

61. FUTURE RESEARCH
Future research addressing exercise preferences and program specifics in the workplace would provide
valuable information for action research.

62. INFORMING WORKPLACES
Wellness coaches and ergonomists are professionals who can educate workplace personnel on healthy
work behaviors.
Although ergonomic recommendations never completely eliminate the damage caused by chair sitting,
following such recommendations would minimize health risks (Cranz, p. 101).

63. IMPLICATIONS FOR DESIGN
INTERIOR OFFICE DESIGN, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN and FASHION DESIGN
It is important, for the well-being of all users of a space, to consider emotional, social and physical health
during workplace design and planning phases.
Workplace design should not only cater to employees and employers within a work space, but also other
users such as clients and patients.
Steelcase Inc. (2009). The movement toward wellness in the workplace [Brochure]. Unknown:

64. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Today’s workplace demands can be stressful and harmful for the body and mind; however, relief can be
found. Such things as:
freedom to move from solitary work to group interaction,
music,
opportunities to engage in spontaneous social encounters,
opportunity to engage in creativity,
self-expression and exploration,
appealing visual environments,
regular exercise,
space for body movements such as exercise, stretching and a variety of working positions,
furniture and equipment,
noise levels not much above or below that in nature,
personal accessories,
plant life,
association with other species,
access to outdoor environments,
and sensory variability
...can provide relief from everyday stresses and improve well-being (Boyden, 1971).

65. OFFICE DESIGN
“Implicit in an understanding of the mind-body connection is an assumption that physical places that set
the mind at ease can contribute to well-being, and those that trouble the emotions might foster illness”
(Sternberg, 2009, p.10).

66. INTERIOR OFFICE DESIGN
Interdisciplinary desgin teams could collaborate to provide valuable insight for office design; such as input
from ergonomists, environmental psychologists, interior designers, architects and wellness coaches.
During design and planning phases of office design, space should be considered for implementation of
future innovative health programs and equipment.

67. INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Implications for industrial design include equipment that accomodates body movement, comfort, and
enhances productivity; such as the Walkstation by Steelcase and Dr. James A. Levine.
Here too, interdisciplinary design teams would provide valuable insights for design opportunities.

68. (IM-)PRACTICALITIES OF EXERCISE AT WORK
Hygiene, space and time are some factors that may hinder workplace exercise, despite the desires for
exercise in the workplace.
Mild exercise such as steadily walking two miles per hour on a treadmill workstation will not likely involve as
many concerns for hygiene and professional appearances as would rigorous exercise programs.

69. IMPLEMENTING EXERCISE WORK PROGRAMS
The most efficient way to incorporate exercise into workplaces may be by providing gym
memberships, longer lunches, more breaks and workstations that accommodate more body movement,
such as sit-stand-walk working stations.
Steelcase Walkstation by Details. (2011). Retrieved November, 30, 2011, from http://store.steelcase.com/products/sit-to-walkstation/

70. FASHION DESIGN
Depending on whether personnel prefer intense or mild exercise in their workplaces, professional attire
of comfortable and practical materials that allow for movement and flexibility, absorb moisture and dry
quickly would be more appropriate than the materials of typical restrictive pants, skirts, collared or button
down shirts that can be found in professional wardrobes. Shoes are another component of fashion design
to be considered in order to successfully implement healthy workplace practices such as exercise.

72. QUESTIONS?
april.p.mcewan@gmail.com