Stepping outside the office: A stated choice experiment on employees’ preferences for walking meeting routes

Source abstract

Growing concerns about sedentary office work have increased interest in integrating physical activity into daily work routines. Walking meetings, during which employees hold meetings while walking, are a promising strategy to reduce sitting time, yet little empirical evidence exists on how environmental features influence their appeal. This study examines which built environment and route characteristics shape employees’ preferences for walking meeting routes. A stated choice experiment was administered to 213 office employees, who evaluated hypothetical routes that varied in distance to entrance/ exit, crowdedness, land use, route signage, green space, seating along the route, and bodies of water. Multinomial logit models were used to analyse preferences for walking meetings in small and larger groups. Results showed that natural features, particularly water bodies, along with seating and clear route signage, were the most influential attributes, while office-related and street-related characteristics were less important. Preferences were consistent across group sizes, with seating along the route being slightly more valued in larger groups. These findings offer actionable insights for workplace planners and urban designers aiming to promote walking meetings and enhance employee well-being.