By Mari-Ann Carlson
New research is showing that sitting in an office chair all day is simply bad for your health. Adopting standing-height desks and adjustable-height equipment into the office provides a way to improve both the health and the productivity of the workplace. Let’s look at the reasons why moving is so important, and how a few simple changes can make your office more energetic, productive, and healthy.
Healthy employees incur lower health care costs, miss work less frequently, and are more productive overall. We experience higher levels of serotonin in our brains when our bodies are active, creating a happier worker. Standing on the job improves communication and gives employees a chance to talk with co-workers at eye level.
Credible studies reveal health risks for American desk-job workers who spend too much time sitting on the job and the many benefits for incorporating periodic standing into the office environment. Experts recommend standing up every 20 minutes. Providing a work space to give employees the chance to stand up and remaining productive on the job is the key.
Can you afford not to incorporate standing-height desk options into the workplace?
The answer is “no.” Now, let’s get you ready to take a stand and build standing-height options into your work space. These steps will help you make it a reality for your business environment and get the corporate buy-in you need to integrate standing into your employees’ work day:
STEP ONE: Build Your Case
You need to understand how prolonged sitting can be a health hazard. Sitting on the job not only causes bodily aches and pains, it can also be the source of many serious health problems – including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. That’s bad news for employers and their nine-to-five office workers. A universal understanding of the negative impact among your business leaders and office furniture procurement staff will build the support you need to champion change.
STEP TWO: Spread the Good News
No one enjoys a “Debbie Downer”, so pair your knowledge-sharing of the health risks with the good news that there’s a healthy alternative to sitting all day – standing-height desks. Chances are, your audience will already be aware of the concept. Standing desks and equipment are catching on in entrepreneurial and corporate environments alike, as businesses discover the many health and ergonomic benefits they offer in addition to increasing worker productivity.
In fact, renowned ergonomic experts have examined various ways in which office workers can improve their health and efficiency by standing periodically throughout the day. According to Ergonomist, Denise Vester, standing throughout the work day helps employees mitigate a plethora of issues including back, neck and shoulder pain, disc pressure, carpal tunnel, blood clots, obesity, muscle atrophy, and low enzyme production.
STEP THREE: Identify Options
You know your office environment best and specifying the ideal options for your cubicles, offices, and shared work spaces will fuel an easier transition. Keep in mind that the ideal height for a standing desk is at or slightly below elbow height so you can position your forearms at a 90-degree angle on the desk surface. A 90 to 105 degree angle at your elbows and no bend in your wrists is the best way to avoid repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Explore numerous standing-height solutions that offer adequate workspace and computer real estate. You’ll discover there is a wide selection of affordable products that ensure a perfect fit for every type of worker and space. For example:
1 Many desks and tables offer sit/stand functionality that enable people to quickly alternate between each position.
2 Use clusters of 40-inch-high filing or storage cabinets to create standing-height “islands.” A standing-height island can act as a central work area or meeting place, giving people options to sit or stand, while also offering plenty of storage and file space. Islands also make an attractive, functional addition to lobbies, file rooms, and other shared spaces.
3 Walk-up workstations give teleworkers and visitors a spot to check email or jot down notes.
4 Through the use of telescoping monitor arms and height adjustable keyboard trays, a person can acquire sit/stand adaptation in one place in a simple and inexpensive manner. It enables you to move the monitor up to eye-level and your keyboard from sitting to standing height without moving the desk itself or replacing it.
STEP FOUR: A Little Help Goes a Long Way
From L-shaped workstations to electric adjustable-height equipment, there are a variety of ergonomically-friendly products that can be easily integrated into any office space. In your search for standing-height solutions, you may want to also seek the help of a furniture professional who specializes in ergonomically-friendly products. Choose someone with the ability to offer you an ample choice of desks and tables that you can use as complete sets or in combination with your existing furniture. Some business furniture merchants provide free office space planning and design services over the phone or in person, helping you choose the right furniture or even generate a 3D drawing to show you how your selections will look in the context of your spaces.
A free how-to guide titled, “No More Sitting Down on the Job: How to Incorporate Standing into Your Workday,” is available for download at www.nbf.com/standing-desk-benefits. For complimentary design services, call 800.558.1010 and use webcode 422189.
