Office furniture is a big expense for employers. They have a wide variety of spaces to furnish including reception rooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms and offices. In addition to these spaces, they also have to provide appropriate office furniture for individual employees. In many cases, employees are hidden from the view of visitors. However, this is no excuse for scrimping on employee furniture, especially when it comes to employee chairs. Why is seating such an important consideration when it comes to office furniture? There are a number of reasons.
One of the most important considerations for office furniture, especially chairs, is the ability to adjust the piece. This is critical for a variety of reasons. In modern workspaces, it’s not uncommon for people to move their chairs to different workspaces like other desks and tables. Employees seldom remain stationary in the same place all day, they may need to move their own chairs to other meeting places. If they have a good chair, they may prefer to move it instead of sitting in a chair that is not adjusted to their specific comfort needs. A chair with an adjustable pneumatic will allow them to raise or lower their seat to tables and meeting spaces that are different heights without impacting their ergonomic settings. If they have to sit in the same place for an extended amount of time, they will be much more comfortable in their own chair.
Another important element when it comes to chairs is comfort. People are much less productive when their office furniture doesn’t feel good. Chairs should have comfortable arms and backs; the backs should fit the environment and person. In warmer climates or offices many prefer a mesh back, others a solid padded back. Most people prefer to have wheels on their office chairs, so they can be mobile and easily maneuver at their desk.
Keeping team members motivated and on task is very important; office furniture that does not work properly or restricts their movement may inhibit the employee’s ability to produce. If they can’t adjust their chair’s height, they may end up sitting in an uncomfortable position. If the padding in the chair is worn and pitted in spots, this can cause discomfort. Workers can be less productive because they are likely to move around more and leave their seats due to discomfort. This can lead to a drop in productivity. People will also experience problems like spinal stress that not only increases discomfort and decrease productivity but can also lead to permanent damage. There have been successful worker’s compensation cases against employers due to substandard office furniture.
Most office furniture experts recommend that workers have ergonomic seating options. Why? For starters, the right office furniture may help lower your worker’s compensation costs. Employees who have the appropriate office furniture will have fewer back injuries, shoulder strain and many other musculoskeletal problems. Many studies have found that adjustable chairs can significantly improve productivity. Why? Workers are more likely to sit in their chairs for longer periods of time if they are comfortable which allows them to get more work done.
What are the elements of good ergonomic seating? Seats should be adjustable to meet the needs of differently sized and shaped workers. The first is lumbar support; Steelcase and Herman Miller have excellent lumbar support that the most petite worker and heavier team members will be comfortable in. There are chairs that are designed to provide support for the person’s lower back. These chairs also relieve the stress on these areas of the back when the person is sitting.
Armrests are another important feature of chairs. Like seat backs, the armrests need to be adjustable to fit each individual. If armrests are not appropriate for the person, they can lead to problems like soreness and discomfort which are caused by muscle fatigue. Arm rests on task chairs should go up and down and ideally the top slide should slide in closer to the employee’s body. Steelcase Leaps have fully adjustable armrests.
Users should be able to control the depth of their seats. If the seat depth is fixed, some people won’t be able to sit in the chair comfortably. Taller and shorter people have different seat depth needs and control is essential. Two to three inches of seat depth control is advisable.
What are some other things that can make chairs more comfortable for workers? There are several including control of the recline of the seat, pelvic support, seat back height and width, the base of support for the chair and many other factors. Many companies review studies on office furniture before purchasing office chairs to make sure they buy the right products for their employees.