Workplace ergonomics have recently become a hot topic across the channel as organisations’ post-pandemic office working patterns have become clearer. Plans are being implemented to improve worker productivity and well-being, therefore, increasing the demand for ergonomic equipment. For ergonomic office chairs alone the global market is expected to grow by 7% CAGR between now and 2030 and be worth over $16 billion. (Source: Research & Markets)
Hybrid work policies are being widely adopted for office workers around the globe. The current estimate is that close to 40% of global knowledge workers will work hybrid by the end of 2023. This is seeing workers going into their main office a designated amount of days per week and working the rest of the days from their home office or other remote location. As this pattern becomes established, organisations are beginning to understand how the ergonomics of the different workplaces can affect productivity.
Home offices were set up in something of a rush during the long lockdown periods. A laptop and a good broadband connection made home working feasible and productive for many people. But the overall quality of the home working workspace could be detrimental to remote working.
Rise in Hybrid Workings Comes with Physical Risks
In the beginning of the pandemic, workers scrambled to find a quiet, dedicated work space in their home. Juggling personal and professional duties was a main priority as many countries were under full lockdown orders. Basic home office equipment sold out quickly leaving many people with no option other than to adapt to their current conditions.
Now, several years after the pandemic changed working patterns, workers are reporting physical stress and injuries. Research published in the journal Strategic Risk Europe warned risk managers that a majority (88%) of office workers suffer from some form of physical pain at work, such as back, neck or joint pain and more than a third (36%) said that pain distracts them from doing their work.
This recent study confirmed pre-pandemic studies that established what are termed “musculoskeletal disorders” are one of most common work-related health problems in Europe.
There is emerging evidence that increased rates of back, shoulder and neck pain could be linked to home working. For example, the UK’s Office of National Statistics reported a 31% increase in workers going off sick for back and neck problems between 2019 and 2022 and attributed this to home working.
Tackling Ergonomics in the Home Office
Given home working is most likely here to stay, many organisations are looking to increase awareness among their home workers about how to avoid physical pain. Although it is not mandatory in most European countries, some may fund or supply home working technology such as ergonomic chairs, desks and stands. The key points to educate home workers on include:
· Have a chair that offers good back support, is cushioned, and lets them rest your feet comfortably on the floor.
· Check the height of the home office desk so that elbows rest at 90-degrees and avoid wrists bending up.
· Keep eyes level with the top edge of display to avoid bending the neck and ensure that the display is an arm’s length away. At all times keep looking straight and avoid hunching over especially if using a laptop.
· Don’t let the mouse stray far from the keyboard to stop awkward shoulder movements.
Putting Good Ergonomics at the Heart of Office Revamp Projects
Apart from encouraging ergonomic home office set-ups, we’ve also seen an increase in employers willing to invest in new ergonomic office furniture and other equipment as part of their programmes to attract workers back into the office. This involves revitalising and even reimagining the office as a better place to work than the home office.
According to research conducted by IDC, 85% of European businesses say they are making changes to their physical work environment, with about half retrofitting existing offices and the other half investing in entirely new facilities.
A key part of the trend to improve or create brand new office spaces is how new ergonomic desks and chairs enable productive working and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic furniture like a chair, for example, is designed to keep the sitter’s posture in the right position to reduce stress on their back, neck, and spine.
The renewed interest in creating better ergonomic workspaces could accelerate innovations like the sit stand desk, which are popular in some markets and mandated in countries like Denmark. Standing when you work on a computer has been shown to deliver health benefits in medical studies because of how it avoids sedentary work patterns and works your muscles.
The technology channel can play a role here in helping organisations create more productive and safe workplaces that combine the best technology with the best ergonomics. At TD SYNNEX, we are supporting partners with their clients’ workplace upgrade projects in areas such as smart collaboration technology, provision of endpoint devices, infrastructure and now an extensive range of high-quality ergonomic office furniture and IT accessories.
