Do you want to improve employee productivity and satisfaction at your start-up? Learn how proper design and the right ergonomic office equipment can help.
Think your employees are comfortable? It might shock you to know that almost 75% of office workers deal with pain related to their work. Chances are that you have some employees among them.
The good news is that you can give your employees a more comfortable workplace without drastic measures. There are plenty of ways you can help with ergonomic office equipment and more.
To cut down on your employees’ pain and medical issues, try these tips.
Ergonomic Office Equipment and Other Tips for a Comfortable Office
A more ergonomic office means fewer employee health issues and better productivity. From a business standpoint, consider these tips to be investments.
Rule #1: Customizability
All in all, the key to making your workplace more comfortable and ergonomic is providing options. Every person is different and there’s no magical set of modifications that works for everyone.
For instance, more and more offices are providing wrist cushions for keyboards and mice. These might be great for some, but if an employee’s chair sits too low, those cushions could do more harm than good.
Rather than having the same setup for all employees, have a nice selection of ergonomic equipment so everyone can use the items that work for them.
Offer Standing Desks
Have you heard the saying that sitting is the new smoking? It’s not wrong.
Sitting too much can lead to a wide variety of serious health problems. That’s why more and more offices are opting for standing desks. As much as your employees will appreciate standing desks, there are some caveats to keep in mind.
First, it’s important to recognize that standing in the same place for too long can be harmful too. Instead, look for adjustable desks or adjustable toppers so employees can switch between standing and sitting at will.
Second, remember that a standing desk is only as helpful as its accessories. You might need items like floor mats to make your employees’ desks as comfortable and helpful as possible. Check out the information here for more details.
Encourage Employee Breaks
Adjustable desks and standing desks can be expensive, but some ergonomic measures cost little or nothing.
One of the best ways to help your employees stay healthy is to encourage them to take breaks. For around five minutes every hour, they should get up and walk around, get some activity, and take their eyes away from their screens.
As an employer, you benefit too. These quick breaks will help your employees avoid fatigue and maintain productivity.
Try putting a timer in your office that alerts once per hour. This reminds your employees to get up and refresh their energy.
Offer Plenty of Chair Choices
One of the largest mistakes companies make is buying the same chair for all their employees. Height differences, weight differences, posture, and other variables make each person better suited for different type of chairs.
If you want all your employees to be comfortable but you still want the office to look professional and uniform, there’s a solution. Try selecting a few different chairs with similar looks and letting employees choose the ones they prefer.
If you’re like most businesses, you replace your chairs one by one as the need arises. When an employee needs a new chair, let them choose from the few you’ve selected. If possible, let them try out each one first.
Practice Lumbar Love
Speaking of chairs, another issue many office chairs have that they don’t have enough lumbar support. So many of them claim to support the lumbar vertebrae, but they usually leave a lot to be desired.
They key is making sure each employee has the lumbar support they need. You can do this by buying a selection of lumbar support pillows. Employees choose one and put it behind them on their chair and voila, you have a more ergonomic chair.
Arrange Your Storage by Use
To really have a comfortable, healthy office, you need to think beyond your employees’ desks. Think about the other actions they perform on a daily basis and how you can make them safer.
One office hazard is when employees need to bend down or reach up to pick up heavy items. You can help by setting up your office so the items your employees need to access most are at arm level or waist level.
This isn’t to say that you can’t use the storage space on your bottom shelves and top shelves. Reserve that space for items you need to keep but only access on rare occasions.
For instance, you probably have old records you never use but need to keep for legal purposes. High shelves are great for these records as long as you have a step ladder to help you get them if you need them.
Try Document Clips
Most of the measures we’ve discussed will help your employees with back pain, but neck pain is just as much of a problem.
If your employees need to reference a printed sheet of paper as they type on their computer, it can crane their necks to keep looking back and forth. To keep your employees’ necks safe and healthy, consider buying some document clips.
A document clip is a small item you install on your employee’s monitor. It has an arm that extends out so it can hold up a paper next to the monitor. This lets your employees keep their necks straight and stable.
Designing an Ergonomic Office
Ergonomic office equipment can help your business in plenty of ways. You can enjoy better employee retention while your employees incur fewer health care costs and take fewer sick days. It’s a win for everyone involved.
Before you go on an ergonomic shopping spree, though, talk to your employees. Find out what they feel would make their workspaces more comfortable.
For more great business tips for startups and long-standing businesses alike, check out our business blog.
