One of the most common complaints from office workers are back and neck pain. Most of these complaints can be traced back to whatever chair or desk they are presently using. Now workers will adjust their bodies to their chairs so that they can keep being productive, but that isn’t how the body was designed. So, this can cause the spine to misalign. A person hunching over a desk which is too low then or a chair that isn’t close enough to the computer can be a real problem causing a loss of productivity and profits for a business. When this happens, the result can be shoulder and neck pain as well as chronic headaches for workers also which leads to turnover rates rising.
Another concern is that the basic seated position in a normal office chair can lead to the shortening of hamstrings and cause the hip flexors to tighten. This will cause chronic lower back pain as well as sciatic pain. The reason for this is that the people involved are trying to keep their legs perpendicular to their torso. This puts a lot of strain on the tendons and muscles of the legs and hips. Again, productivity goes down and turnover rates go up.
Discomfort and chronic pain can be one of the causes in loss of focus.
Some reasons for this kind of pain are listed below:
- A desk which infers with movement and restricts leg room.
- Shelves and cabinets which the person has to stretch to open or to reach.
- Back pain as well as shoulder pain from badly designed furniture.
- Eye strain, headaches and migraines from poorly placed furniture in relation to computer screens.
The benefits of ergonomics
The way a person sits affects the way and length of time, they work. If they are in pain, the pain is distracting and cause loss of work production too. Breaks are taken more frequently just so that the person can get up and walk around to relieve the pressure on the back and in the legs. However, with the proper chair, the person is more productive and not in pain. Office furniture which is ergonomic has been designed to support a person’s natural function, well being, and facilitate comfort then. For example, below are some of the benefits of an ergonomics chair.
When a person’s body is in the correct posture, the body stays aligned and there is less discomfort experienced. When an adjustable chair is used, it permits a person’s feet to remain flat on the floor too. The knees remain at a 90-degree angle and parallel to the person’s hips for good body support.- If a person sits in a chair without a head rest, it causes both shoulder stiffness and a sore neck. The headrest will support the person’s head while talking on the phone or writing a report though.
- If a person doesn’t have proper support for the back and spine, it can cause stress on the body. This can cause minor to severe pain. The backrest of the chair should be tall enough then to support the entire spine. It needs to follow the curve of the spine at the right angle to fit the person’s body.
- When sitting in a hard chair, it puts pressure on the hips. Selecting a chair that’s padded with a seat depth that’s sufficient will help to reduce this kind of stress and pressure. The chair needs to have seat depth of 2-4 inches when it’s measured from the back of the person’s knees then.
The chair a person sits in should be user friendly. Because discomfort and pain are distracting and take away focus on work. This disrupts co-worker teamwork too when people are in pain. With ergonomic chairs though, productivity improves, attention is retained and creativity and problem solving is at the front where it belongs.
Ergonomic office furniture promotes employee well being and provide better levels of energy. It adds to greater cognitive focus because there are less physical distractions caused by pain and discomfort. It improves the circulation of the body and reduces strain in the neck and shoulders.
When all ergonomic office furniture available is considered, the workplace is a better place.
References:
https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/healthcare/
http://www.goldtouch.com/non-ergonomic-vs-ergonomic-office-spaces/
Office supplies: 
What are some of the advantages of standing desks? For starters, people who use them tend to have more energy throughout the day. They experience far less fatigue and even experience less hunger than people who sit all day. Keep in mind that standing desks don’t mean that the person is expected to stand all day. They should combine standing with a sitting option so that people can move back and forth throughout their workdays. However, even standing for part of the day makes a big difference in employees’ mental and physical health.
There are some disadvantages to standing desks and you shouldn’t adopt them for everyone just because they are a popular trend. When they’re used properly, they have benefits, but like anything else, improper use brings problems. If you’re uncomfortable, you’re not going to be able to concentrate. Standing desks are a great fit for some people, but others want the option to sit. People who aren’t trained to use the desk correctly will have problems. They need to be taught to adjust the desk to the right height and take time to sit when necessary. If the desk isn’t configured correctly, it can cause physical problems for employees.
Did you know the Aeron chair is 94% recyclable? This is not its only advantage, of course. The primary purpose of the Aeron chair is its adaptability. It adjusts to different body sizes, shapes and motions. The chair provides comfort and support to many different body types. Aeron has simple adjustment controls. The chair is available in work airs, stools and side chairs for a variety of office needs.
Steelcase chair models include Leap, Criterion and Think. Each chair model is unique. The chairs are designed to provide comfort and support to users using a variety of designs, technology and construction. Steelcase products are created using environmentally friendly materials and processes. You can feel confident that you are purchasing products that are good for both your employees and the environment.
There are some other reasons that employees need their distance from management. As a manager, you probably have very different things on your agenda than your team members do. You probably have to participate in a variety of conference calls. You need to hold meetings with individual employees. Some of your meetings can easily distract employees. They may overhear information that should be kept confidential.
It’s important to keep in mind that a manager holds a different role as a part of a team. The manager is responsible for worker productivity and can’t be as casual with employees as they are with one another. Some managers struggle with this, especially if they were promoted from within the team. Unfortunately, it’s healthier if there is some distance between managers and their team members. If managers become too close with individual employees, it can be interpreted as favoritism and lead to tension among team members.
Ergonomic chairs are available in a wide range of fabrics and styles that can fit in with any office design. You aren’t limited to merely buying ergonomic office chairs. Other types of ergonomic chairs are available. These include meeting chairs, waiting room chairs, conference room chairs and even in raised stool styles. You can find comfortable seating for almost any situation.
The key to a productive workplace is building appropriate balance between group spaces and individual working areas. Both need to be present so that the office can be as productive as possible. Open space areas are still important so that people can collaborate. However, there need to be private areas as well. There also need to be spaces that teams can meet privately and work quietly without distractions. Spaces for personal conversations also need to be available.
Taller cubicles are also good options for private work spaces. The higher walls help block out noise and indicate a private area to the people in the area. You can also purchase cubicle workstations for individuals or two people that provide private space for getting computer or desk work completed. Cubicles don’t work for every privacy issue. They can’t provide shield personal or confidential conversations. Sometimes, complete privacy is necessary. Often, managers or employees need to make phone calls individually or in groups that can’t be overheard. In these cases, companies can provide small rooms with doors that shut and lock. Rooms can be reserved if necessary. People can use the rooms to place calls without anyone overhearing what they are saying so that sensitive information won’t be overheard.
