Here’s a simple way to reduce worker’s compensation and health care costs for your company while improving productivity on core business objectives. Invest in ergonomics!
“Ergonomics? Daz dem fancy chairs an’ ting?”
Yes, Edna. SUPER FANCY CHAIRS. And desks. But apart from their sleek design, they also happen to be super functional and healthy!
Consequences of the World of Work
How can furniture be healthy, you ask? Well, first it helps to know how furniture can be unhealthy. Chairs force your body into an abnormal position; prolonged sitting in a regular chair next to a normal desk damages your overall health. Hunched shoulders put a strain on your back resulting in bad posture, chronic pain, and unhappiness with life in general.
Imagine an office full of unhappy workers, trudging along in silent misery. Not exactly a hive of productivity, or at least not as productive as they could have been sans misery. Some workplaces sanction mini-breaks away from desks, which could involve taking a short walk or just doing some stretches in the lunch room.
This works to some degree, but it does little to alleviate the long-term problems caused by unnatural positioning throughout the day. Simply being in a cramped, cluttered, or poorly designed room can drastically affect one’s quality of life, even when they leave the space at the end of the day.
This is where ergonomics becomes an important consideration.
What is Ergonomics? (Caution: Technical Terms Ahead)
It’s way more than just “fancy chairs and desks”, it’s a whole science! Officially, it means “the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.”
Also called ‘human factors’, simply put it refers to the relationship between people and their environment; the impact of external factors on the mind, body, and productivity. So if you’re suffering every day at work, chances are your body is protesting its surroundings. (Your creepy co-worker Brad included.)
The most popular aspect of ergonomics deals with the work environment, specifically, the office space. Hence its frequent association with office furniture. But it isn’t even just about the furniture, the entire work space can be conformed to ergonomic standards by changing certain elements.
Benefits of Ergonomically Designing Your Office
Ergonomic office furniture makes a business look more respectable, improves productivity, and lessens work-related stress and injury. Employees, apart from feeling more comfortable, will also be able to organise their spaces more tidily and efficiently. New hires might be more inclined to stay on the job and more motivated to do work. Office morale in general will go up, with fewer sick days taken and more diligent work ethics employed.
These specially-made chairs and desks are not only for offices, they can be used in homes or medical centres. Depending on the needs of the organisation/individual, there are many options for furniture. And of course, Complete Spaces Limited right here in Trinidad and Tobago has an array of ergonomically designed options for furniture available for your needs.
