Legitimising leisure at work: leisure constraints and workplace physical activity among university employees

Leisure-based physical activity during the workday is associated with positive health and well-being outcomes, yet participation among university employees remains inconsistent. Guided by leisure constraints theory, this qualitative study examined how employees experience and negotiate workplace physical activity within organisational settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 university employees participating in an informal faculty and staff basketball group at a public research university in the United States. Findings revealed intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints affected participation through internalised productivity pressures, workplace visibility, peer expectations, scheduling demands and limited institutional support. Participants consistently interpreted such constraints through perceptions of whether workplace physical activity was legitimate within organisational norms. Participants frequently described workplace physical activity as negotiated leisure, with involvement influenced by whether organisational norms framed participation as legitimate, acceptable and compatible with professional expectations. The findings suggest organisational cultures impact the negotiation of leisure during the workday. Implications suggest organisations seeking to support workplace physical activity should address not only structural barriers, but also the social and cultural conditions defining whether participation is perceived as appropriate within the workplace.