The Importance of Ergonomic Office Furniture

We don’t want to be dramatic, but are you aware of how many injuries in the workplace are caused by your office furniture?

Being a retailer of ergonomic office furniture, you might think that we have a bias toward the importance of sitting comfortably in the workplace. And, of course, you would be right. But we’re not alone – so read on to find out why investing in well-designed office furniture makes a difference to both your staff and performance.

What is ‘Ergonomic Office Furniture’ anyway?

Have you have ever spent the entire day sitting in front of a computer, sat at a meeting room table, or found yourself storing paperwork in a filing cabinet? If the answer is yes, then you’ll know how uncomfortable it becomes staying in one position. It’s wearing on your body, and you start to develop aches in places you never knew you had muscles in the first place.

Ergonomic office furniture is designed with the human body in mind. It’s specifically designed to support you in the correct posture and places for the job that you are doing – which means that you need to choose the right furniture for the right task. But what types of furniture are available?

Ergonomic Office Chairs

Ergonomic office chairs are designed to provide comfort and support for those that spend long periods sitting at a desk. These chairs are specifically made to reduce stress on the body and prevent the development of conditions such as back pain, neck strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

There are many reasons to choose an ergonomic chair and we even have a handy ergonomic office chair guide to help you find the right one! However, it’s important to consider the user’s height, weight, and preferred sitting position. A chair that is too small or too large can cause discomfort and strain on the body. It is also important to consider the user’s daily tasks and activities, as different tasks may require different levels of support.

For example, an adjustable height wobble stool actively keeps your body moving and muscles in motion as you work. Users tend to perch on them with a slightly forward lean, which is great for your posture, and the adjustable height means you can fit them perfectly to your own height and desk.

Ergonomic Office Desks

On the subject of desks, there are ergonomic options here too. Have you heard about a sit-stand or adjustable height desk? These desks can change height from a sitting to a standing position at the touch of a button – which makes it easy to swap positions throughout the day and give your back a rest. And, if you are presenting or just in a long meeting on a video conference, taking your desk up to the standing position can help you look and sound more involved on the call.

Ergonomic office desks don’t have to be limited to your individual workstation either. We have the option of a raised height meeting table as well – keeping your meetings moving and giving them a real dynamic feel.

If you don’t have the space or budget to re-vamp you entire office with adjustable height desks, there are still alternatives, such as our gas powered sit-stand workstations. These can be placed on your existing desks and allow you to raise your monitor and keyboard easily and quickly.

Office Accessories

You can also try some simple accessories, all of which are designed to help your posture. For example, our monitor arms allow you to easily move your monitor into the right position for your height. This a great option if you desk-share and need to move equipment to suit each user.

Furthermore, our anti-fatigue mats provide a soft cushion for anyone required to stand for long periods, reducing stress on your lower legs, feet and back.

And once you have made your office furniture more ergonomic, there are options for your office equipment as well. Try an ergonomic keyboard and mouse to reduce strain on your wrists, for starters.

Conclusion

There are plenty of benefits from choosing ergonomic furniture in your office. Just removing the aches and repetitive strains that your workforce suffer from will have a clear impact on sickness related absence. Plus, showing that you prioritise well-being in the workplace will improve morale, positivity and productivity.

It’s not just about taking care of your workers in the workplace either. If your staff work from home, you may want to consider whether it’s worth providing them with ergonomic furniture too. While they may not have the space for a fully equipped home office, providing adaptions such as a sit-stand workstation could make all the difference.

If you’re not sure where to start or how to fit all the options into your available space, then please give our friendly team a call today. We are experts in office furniture and can provide a design service to measure your space, understand your business and then design a personalised office proposal that considers all the options available.