Mid Sweden University

Hybrid work, in which employees divide their time between on-site collaboration with colleagues at the office and homeworking, is expected to become prevalent in the future (Engelen et al., 2019; Bloom, 2021). These work arrangements are frequently integrated with activity-based workplaces (ABWs), which organize the workspace into designated zones tailored to different levels of interaction. These zones typically include a completely silent area, a space for quiet conversations, and a zone where unrestricted discussions and phone calls are permitted (Eismann et al., 2022).

Sweden has one of the highest proportions of employees working from home (Eurofound, 2024). However, according to a review by Carrasco-Garrido and De-Pablos-Heredero (2023), there is a lack of research on these work arrangements within public sector workplaces. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of attendance behaviors among both employees and managers in public sector organizations operating in ABWs alongside hybrid work. Employing a mixed-methods design, the study analyzes data from a survey with open-ended questions conducted among 448 employees. It compares an intervention group, which adopts a holistic approach to the transition to ABWs, with a reference group that follows a top-down approach. The study examines differences in attendance behaviors, remote work practices, psychosocial factors, and expectations, opportunities and risks related to the transition.

The main findings reveal that a broader, more comprehensive, and holistic transition process outperformed an expert-oriented and less integrated process. Participants in the intervention group provided more favorable assessments of the transition process, reported more satisfactory psychosocial conditions, exhibited higher self-rated health, and experienced lower levels of sickness presenteeism. The qualitative findings highlight both positive and negative expectations, as well as potential risks and opportunities associated with hybrid work and ABWs.