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Aim <p>This research examines the performance and mental workload of knowledge workers in various work environments, with a specific focus on long-distance trains and activity-based work settings. As mobile work becomes increasingly prevalent in Europe, understanding the implications of such settings on worker productivity and well-being is essential.</p> Subject and methods <p>Experiment 1 compares routine task performance and perceived mental workload between a stationary office and a long-distance train environment. Experiment 2 extends this inquiry by examining the effects of an activity-based work environment, where workers can choose their workspaces based on the task at hand. A total of 57 participants aged between 20 and 62 years were included in the analysis of Experiment 1. The analysis of Experiment 2 included 29 re-recruited participants from Experiment 1, also aged between 20 and 62.</p> Results <p>Results indicate that performance is significantly worse on trains, attributed to increased processing time rather than error rates, alongside higher mental workload. Findings reveal that performance and mental workload improve in the flexible setting compared to both the single office and the train.</p> Conclusion <p>The study highlights the importance of adapting work environments to promote productivity and health among mobile knowledge workers, advocating for the tailored selection of tasks and consideration of individual employee needs when implementing mobile work strategies. These results underscore the importance of aligning work environments with task demands in mobile work contexts. Organizations should encourage the strategic selection of workspaces and tasks, while considering individual employee needs, to promote productivity and health among mobile knowledge workers.</p>

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Routine knowledge work: mental workload and performance during work in long-distance trains and activity-based work environments

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月5日

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  • Charlotte Pauer,
  • Patricia Tegtmeier,
  • Bettina Lafrenz,
  • Barbara Deml

摘要

Aim

This research examines the performance and mental workload of knowledge workers in various work environments, with a specific focus on long-distance trains and activity-based work settings. As mobile work becomes increasingly prevalent in Europe, understanding the implications of such settings on worker productivity and well-being is essential.

Subject and methods

Experiment 1 compares routine task performance and perceived mental workload between a stationary office and a long-distance train environment. Experiment 2 extends this inquiry by examining the effects of an activity-based work environment, where workers can choose their workspaces based on the task at hand. A total of 57 participants aged between 20 and 62 years were included in the analysis of Experiment 1. The analysis of Experiment 2 included 29 re-recruited participants from Experiment 1, also aged between 20 and 62.

Results

Results indicate that performance is significantly worse on trains, attributed to increased processing time rather than error rates, alongside higher mental workload. Findings reveal that performance and mental workload improve in the flexible setting compared to both the single office and the train.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of adapting work environments to promote productivity and health among mobile knowledge workers, advocating for the tailored selection of tasks and consideration of individual employee needs when implementing mobile work strategies. These results underscore the importance of aligning work environments with task demands in mobile work contexts. Organizations should encourage the strategic selection of workspaces and tasks, while considering individual employee needs, to promote productivity and health among mobile knowledge workers.