The aim of this study was to examine whether shared and open-plan offices are associated with more days of sickness absence than cellular offices.
The analysis was based on a national survey of Danish inhabitants between 18-59 years of age (response rate 62%), and the study population consisted of the 2403 employees that reported working in offices. The different types of offices were characterized according to self-reported number of occupants in the space. The log-linear Poisson model was used to model the number of self-reported sickness absence days depending on the type of office; the analysis was adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic status, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and physical activity during leisure time.
Sickness absence was significantly related to having a greater number of occupants in the office (P6 persons) had 62% more days of sickness absence (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.30-2.02).
Occupants sharing an office and occupants in open-plan offices (>6 occupants) had significantly more days of sickness absence than occupants in cellular offices.
Notes
Comment In: Scand J Work Environ Health. 2011 Sep;37(5):359-6221814705