This thesis examines the potential impact that workplaces in the city centre of Reykjavík can have on the commuting behaviour of their employees by promoting sustainable transportation. This issue is particularly relevant as Reykjavík seeks to reduce car dependency and encourage sustainable travel as part of its urban sustainability goals. 

The thesis asks explicitly to what extent and in what ways city centre workplaces can influence their employees’ commuting choices towards more sustainable modes of travel and what factors facilitate or hinder such shifts. To investigate this question, a case study of two city-centre workplaces in Reykjavík was conducted, combining in-depth interviews and questionnaires to gather qualitative and quantitative data on commuting patterns and attitudes. This approach provided detailed insights into organisational practices and employee perspectives on commuting. 

The analysis is guided by Boltanski and Thévenot's orders of worth framework, which provides a conceptual lens to understand how different value-based justifications shape commuting decisions. The findings identify several workplace-level incentives promising to encourage employees to commute more sustainably, including transportation grants tied to sustainable commuting commitments, trial programs for electric bicycles, and improved facilities such as bicycle storage, showers, and locker rooms. These measures demonstrate the influence internal workplace initiatives can have on commuting habits. However, structural and cultural barriers beyond the workplace level also play an important role in shaping commuting behaviour, often limiting the impact of workplace initiatives.

Overall, the research demonstrates that workplaces have significant potential to foster more sustainable commuting patterns among employees. It also highlights that beyond workplace strategies and incentives, transport policy measures and urban planning interventions are essential for addressing systemic barriers beyond the scope of individual workplaces and achieving broader shifts in urban mobility. These findings underscore the need for coordinated efforts between employers and public authorities to effectively shift commuting behaviour towards sustainable modes of transport.