Unconscious Emission Reductions Through Psychological Safety and Flexible Work

This research examined whether flexible work schedules in psychologically safe environments encourage voluntary, conscious, and/or unconscious behaviours that reduce emissions. Conducted at Imperial Oil’s Quarry Park Campus, the study combined survey data, badge-in attendance records, and commuting-related emission estimates. Findings show that although environmental concerns are rarely a primary motivation for remote work, working from home reduces commuting frequency and therefore fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Psychological safety functions within the flexible work system as both an enabler and a constraint. Respondents reported generally supportive interpersonal dynamics; however, inconsistencies between self-reported work-from-home frequency and badge-in data suggested reluctance to disclose actual behaviour. These discrepancies highlight the influence of managerial discretion, policy ambiguity, and workplace norms. Overall, emission reductions emerged largely as unintended externalities of personal and logistical decisions, demonstrating how workplace design can indirectly generate environmental benefits.

Author dc:creator

• Toner, Seamus

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kerr, Gillian

• School of environment and sustainability

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-20939

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/29410