There aren’t many tasks we complete in our office role these days, which don’t require a computer. The huge technological boom of the last decade at the very least has meant that whether we’re using laptops, desktops, tablets, or smartphones, we’re using technology of some kind, and that means spending a huge amount of time in front of a screen.
Of course, if you’re using a smartphone, you’re on the go, but in terms of laptops and desktops, and even tablets to a large degree, you’re going to be sat at a desk of some kind. The importance of sitting properly has been pressed by employers for years now, with health and safety training really focusing on how to protect your back, neck and wrists. This is a plus point for employers because it reduces the amount of days employees are forced to take off sick with RSI and other associated conditions. Of course, from the employee point of view, sitting properly cuts down on pain, which is never a bad thing!
To help with all of this, you need to look at the office seating arrangements you have in your office overall.
If you’ve heard, the term ‘ergonomic’ then you’ll know that this is without a doubt the best route to go down in terms of comfort and support for your employees, many of whom will be sitting at a desk for long periods of time during their daily hours. You can buy an ergonomic desk, which helps with space and positioning, and you can also buy many different types of ergonomic chairs, which come in many different styles and colours too. These types of office chairs don’t have to be huge and bulky, but they do adjust to the specific requirements of the person sitting in them.
The basic requirements for adjustment include the seat height, the arm rests (if there are any, and they should be removable too), the seat angle, and the height of the back of the chair. Many office chairs also have the ability to pump up or down the seat padding, to adjust comfort levels.
With all these different types of ergonomic office furniture choices on the market, it can be difficult to identify which is best for you. Looking for advice on which types of office chairs to buy will aid your decision. So, to help you out, let’s check out a few tips for what to look for when buying ergonomic office chairs.
Adjustability of The Office Chair
We just mentioned that office chairs of this type need to be adjustable in different ways, but some chairs will have less features than others will. It’s best to go with office furniture solutions, which offer more in the way of adjustability, because this way you can cater for more employees. Not every single person on the planet is a standard size - what is a standard size anyway?
It gives you a greater amount of flexibility if you have a chair, which can be adjusted in as many ways as possible.
Some office chairs will not have armrests, and some might not adjust in terms of the seat padding. For that reason, shop around and go for the product, which has the most features. This is especially important if you’re considering hot-desking in the future. This means that more than one person will be using the chair, and your chair needs to be adjustable to their individual needs. For instance, a tall person will need the chair to be deeper and lower, whereas a person who is shorter may need a seat which is narrower, to keep their body in proper alignment.
There is no one size fits all solution!
Compatibility With Desks
In an ideal world, you would opt for a desk which is also ergonomically designed, to help with the overall health and wellness vibe. If you can’t afford to opt for these, and your budget is set on traditional office desks, then simply ensure that your ergonomic seating choices are compatible. For instance, curved desks give you a lot of space, but unless the person is sat in the curve exactly when using the computer, they’re going to be twisting too much, possibly putting strain on their neck and lower back.
Far too many office workers have some kind of pain during their working day - work isn’t supposed to cause you pain! Much of this pain is due to their workstation not being laid out correctly, but it’s also mostly down to the fact that their chair either doesn’t adjust at all, doesn’t adjust properly, or it isn’t compatible size-wise with their desk.
Don’t Forget Lumbar Support
The lower back, or lumbar region, is one of the most commonly injured, and it is where most office workers would point to if you asked where they had regular pain. The reason for this is a lack of support in that region, and you can easily counteract that issue by choosing office chairs, which have this feature.
A chair may have an air pocket in the lumbar region, which can be pumped up or deflated, according to the needs of the user. Of course, the lumbar support would be positioned correctly with the chair being raised or lowered, according to that person’s individual height requirements. If your chair doesn’t have this type of support then you can purchase lumbar cushion supports which loop around the back of the chair. Having said that, these aren’t adjustable in terms of how much cushioning there is, unlike an inflatable and deflatable air pocket.
Choose The Correct Seating Across The Board
Remember, there are chairs all over your office environment, not just at desks! You will probably have many visitors coming into your reception area, and that means that you need to purchase comfortable and supportive reception seating too.
This could be for your receptionist, who would require the same kind of ergonomic design as those working in the office, but also for visitors. Whilst it’s bad practice to keep your visitors waiting for too long in the reception area, you want them to be comfortable for the time they are there, and not to go away complaining about a sore back!
The Importance of Taking Your Time
When choosing the correct type of ergonomic chairs for your office, it’s important not to rush the process. There is a huge range of different types of chairs on the market, and that not only extends to ergonomic designs, but various styles and fits too. Check out ‘office furniture near me’ choices on the web, to give you the best range within your vicinity.
By ensuring that you check your exact requirements before making a purchase, you’ll be able to decide on an option, which is going to stand the test of time, and not one, which you’ll need to replace quickly. Cost effectiveness is key in this day and age, as well as how comfortable and supported your employees are. Also, think about the types of working practices you might like to implement in the future, e.g. whether you might go down the line of hot-desking or something similar. This would influence the type of office furniture you might like to buy ahead of time.
Educating Your Staff on Healthy Working Practices
Of course, you can buy all the ergonomic chairs you want, but if your staff don’t know how to use, them or don’t understand the importance of using them, it’s a total waste of time and money! For this reason, when you purchase your office chairs, make sure you have a short staff training session to show them how to adjust the office chairs, and their range of features.
In addition to this, educating your staff on healthy working practices is vital if you want to avoid strains and illness. This includes:
• The importance of regular stretching, to boost circulation and avoid pain
• How to sit properly in a chair, e.g. correct posture
• How to adjust the chair
• Why you should take regular breaks, including regular screen breaks and doing tasks away from the computer screen
• Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Always eating lunch away from the desk
These are all ways to ensure a healthy working environment for your staff, and when you incorporate ergonomic office furniture into the mix, you’re ensuring a much more comfortable experience, as well as less chance of days off sick too.
How do you feel about ergonomic office chairs, do you find them comfortable and easy to use? Do you find them easy to adjust? What do you think is the most important adjustment feature of this type of chair? Many people become a little overwhelmed with the sheer number of levers and handles on these types of chairs, but once you understand which lever relates to which part, it’s super-easy!
Share your ideas on ergonomic office furniture overall and let’s spread the word across the nation. No more back pain!