With one quick search online you can see that the choice of office chairs and desks is endless. But the selection of the right one can have an impact on the health of your team. Poor posture can lead to major health issues such as carpal tunnel and more. Desks and chairs designed correctly, however, help stop these problems while at the same time increasing morale, production, and efficiency. Workers care about the office in which they work. From aesthetics to function, an office needs to include employees. An ergonomic office helps can employees with comfort. While comfort makes the work place more enjoyable, it is proven that ergonomics make the workplace more productive.
What is Ergonomic Office Furniture?
When people think about ergonomic furniture, they usually think about comfortable chairs or seating. However, desk chairs are just a part of what constitutes ergonomic furniture. When talking about this office furniture, the focus is mostly on types of desks, tables, supportive chairs, backless chairs, etc. Ergonomic office furniture is a marriage of functionality and comfort. Posture supporting furniture helps limit back pain, neck pain, and other issues that that can be caused by poor posture. This limits distractions throughout long working hours and reduces the need for breaks throughout the work day.
The Science
According to the American Posture Institute, a study was done that supports the idea that poor posture does influence productivity. The study goes on to say the decrease in production wasn’t caused by employee absences. The loss was in the work place. The researchers in the study found that posture breaks help limit these issues. Ergonomic office furniture can virtually eliminate the need for there these breaks while maintaining and/or increasing productivity.
The University of North Carolina studied the most important elements in an ergonomic office chair. One of the most beneficial pieces of an ergonomic desk chair is that it supports and improves good posture and back support. The UNC goes on to say that arm and neck rests, seat depth and angles, and seat/backrest height might be just as important. The studies show that to get the most out of an office chair, almost all parts of the office chair need to be considered.
The use of ergonomic furniture in the office is on the rise. This is due in part to the studies that support the idea that poor posture directly affects productivity. More offices use exercise balls and sit-stand desks in the office. In addition to improving posture, alternate seating burns more calories as well. WebMD shows that this type of seating burns more calories per hour than normal seating. This is due to the muscles that are needed to stand that are not active when seated. Sit-Stand desks have many health benefits, including improved circulation and digestion. Not only does this type of furniture benefit the health of workerss, it benefits companies too.
Ergonomic Desks and Chairs
The ergonomic desk and chair selection on the market has increased. The main goal is to provide furniture that makes workers comfortable while helping them maintain proper posture. Being able to limit the breaks the employees need, directly increases productivity and efficiency. The sit-stand desk has become more and more common. Essentially just a raised desk that can be lifted or lowered easily to accommodate employees of all heights. What sets these desks apart from a typical desk is the ability to sit and/or stand. Being able to stand up in the middle of working allows an employee to avoid staying in the same spot too long. The sit-stand desk lets an employee keep working.
The main goal is to provide furniture that makes employees comfortable while helping them maintain proper posture.
Desk chairs have evolved over the years to accommodate various health problems. The exercise ball, kneeling chairs, and chairs that force good posture are becoming more mainstream. There has been a shift from using these types of chairs out of necessity, toward using them as preventative measures. Using ergonomic chairs helps limit issues that arise from poor posture altogether.
It is undeniable and proven that these types of changes are effective. Recognizing employees’ needs in the office is something that all employers should do. However, a company that employs a large number of workers might see these changes as pointless and costly. While the initial cost of this furniture might be high, it does prove to be a great investment. If a large investment isn’t in the budget this year, you can start small. There are small changes to employees’ desks and space that can still make a big difference. Since many things go into posture, small changes can still have big effects.
Small Ergonomic Office Improvements
Along with the obvious changes that can be made to address health needs, there are slight adjustments that can be made that help with long-term issues. One major thing to be addressed is keyboard usage. The majority of an employee’s time is spent using a keyboard. Much like a desk chair, almost every aspect of keyboard usage needs to be addressed.
Happier, healthier, and more comfortable employees perform better.
Keyboard trays are extended platforms that slide out from under the desk. This addresses one of the most common issues with keyboard use. These trays improve posture by eliminating the need to reach forward. These keyboard trays are evolving into trays similar to TV wall mounts. They can extend out from the desk, tilt up and down, and move from side to side letting the employee to move around. Some include wrist rests. These provide cushion to relieve any pressure on the wrists. Similar issues can arise from mouse use. Also, many types have been designed in hopes to limit the effects.
Princeton has found that excessive keyboard and mouse usage can be responsible for carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and repetitive strain injury. A few ways to help prevent these problems include relaxing your hands, wrists, and arms while typing or using the mouse. Another practice to limit the risk is to change tasks often. Instead of stopping work, a slight adjustment such as standing instead of sitting can help fix many problems caused by repetitive muscle strain. Very affordable changes can greatly reduce long-term negative effects.
The Reward
Start with small impactful changes for your workerss. The changes that can be made to keyboards, mice, and keyboard trays are very affordable. While some of the bigger changes such as furniture (desks, chairs, etc.) can be a little more costly, there is proof that they provide improved working conditions for employees. The improved conditions and the increase in productivity benefit everyone.
In an office that requires a lot of sitting and typing, ergonomic office furniture is very helpful. Although not all offices benefit the same from the same ergonomic furniture, there is a right fit for everyone. With affordable options, the ability to limit long-term health issues can almost be seen as priceless. If you can pair that with an increase in production it’s a win, win for everyone.
The success of the company relies on its workers. And if it is possible to include employees, we typically try to. Because this includes certain or specific needs. If accommodating employees results in an increase in productivity then everyone wins. The downside of poorly designed office furniture are really felt by everyone. Some workers might already have some issues related to poor posture while some may be more prone to it. Regardless, everyone can and eventually will be affected. Whether it is changes to desks, chairs, or even the addition of wrist rests, these issues can be addressed. Changes do not have to be big to be a big change. Happier, healthier, and more comfortable workers perform better. Not only can a business change as a whole, but the quality and working space can also improve for the workers.
Want to provide more ergonomic office furniture for your employees? StrongProject can help.
