3 Ways to Improve your Office Worker’s Wellbeing & Productivity with Ergonomic Office Furniture
Now that many employers and employees return to their main offices, it is important to make everyone feel comfortable, happy and stay healthy at work.
There are many ways in which this can be ensured by the company, but a particular focus lies on the office design and interior. Having just gone through an epidemic, all employers must follow government guidance on keeping workspaces safe for all employees.
Besides such measures, office workers often suffer from musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, neck, and shoulder pain as well as other related health issues such as obesity or heart disease due to a lack of mobility and physical activity.
So, let’s discover how the office space can be improved to promote worker’s health and wellbeing.
3 Effective Ways for Healthier Work Ergonomics at the Office
The term ergonomics generally relates to the physical aspects of the work environment.
Ergonomics.org.uk define it as follows:
“Ergonomics is a science-based discipline that brings together knowledge from other subjects such as
anatomy and physiology, psychology, engineering, and statistics to ensure that designs complement the strengths and abilities of people and minimise the effects of their limitations. Rather than expecting people to adapt to a design that forces them to work in an uncomfortable, stressful, or dangerous way, ergonomists and human factors specialists seek to understand how a product, workplace or system can be designed to suit the people who need to use it.”
The main reason for employee absenteeism in the United Kingdom is musculoskeletal injury, with back pain topping the list according to an ONS Study. An increase in mental health problems can follow leading to even more staff absences within a company.
To go against this trend, employers can support their staff to be healthier by implementing supportive office features that promote their workers’ health and wellbeing.
1. Use Office Furniture that encourages a Neutral Posture
A neutral posture is essential for any worker to avoid common posture mistakes. The office furniture should allow them to align their spine to its natural position that’s completely straight from head to toe. If staff tend to slouch or hunch, this can cause spinal compression, back pain, and musculoskeletal injuries and ergonomic furniture such as height-adjustable desks can counteract this.
Employers should share the following guidance about the ideal posture at work with their staff possibly also as a poster:
- The computer monitor should be at eye level to prevent the head from tilting. You can install monitor arms that can help with additional computer monitor adjustments for each individual worker.
- To sit with their back straight against their office chair, they should regularly pull their shoulders back and take a few stretches of the neck.
- The lower arms should rest on support and reach out to the keyboard and mouse comfortably.
- Feet should rest flat on the ground and ankles and legs should not be crossed.
- Keep the hips as close to the back of the office chair as possible. This will help the lower back to be supported and to keep the upper back straight rather than slouching.
- Avoid resting on one arm, as this causes the spine to curve.
- Remain in a healthy sitting posture with an adjustable ergonomic office chair with built-in headrests and lumbar support for better spine alignment.
- Use ergonomic support products like footrests and keyboard trays to remain in a neutral posture for most of the workday.
2. Give workers small movement breaks throughout the day
After being seated for a while, workers may experience stiffness, back pain, soreness, and shoulder, neck, and back pain. When this occurs, they should be able to get up and move for a short time.
Employers can create small relaxation areas in and around the office where workers can go to stretch or move. Employers can also implement short breaks throughout the day, allowing staff to get a tea or coffee, recycle their kitchen waste or to go outside for some fresh air.
3. Provide workers with effective storage solutions
Enabling workers to keep their office space organised and declutter desks easily can lead to a lot more productive and stress free work hours. Having storage solutions fitted that help staff with finding office supplies or documents faster can be a huge time and energy saver. You can research specific storage units or vertical storage for easy access that will also reduce staff having to bend over too much.
You can utilize apps or an employee benefits provider to help with office design where you and your team can virtually create an organised office that everyone is happy with. Or you can consult office furniture suppliers to provide your office with customized solutions. To install more eco-friendly options why not work with a handyman?
A Happy Office is a Successful Office
There’s no right or wrong with improving the office design bearing the above tips in mind and involving everyone if you have the wellbeing and productivity at the heart of this undertaking. Your employees should experience improved concentration, reduced fatigue, back pain and aching muscles, increased focus, improved agility, and mobility. You can get in touch with Emotion Office to get a consultation on the best ergonomic furniture to match perfectly with your office requirements.
