As the home office becomes commonplace, it’s important businesses ensure employees have a suitable workstation to improve well-being and productivity. You wouldn’t supply staff with a computer from the 70s, so why let employees work from the kitchen table?
Why workstations are important
Although the office is a low-risk environment, safety regulations protect workers from developing long-term musculoskeletal disorders such as neck and back pain from sitting at a desk. As we move towards a work-from-home model, these protections should translate into the home environment as workers are just as likely to develop these negative effects. That’s why businesses need to offer employees as good a setup at home as they have in the office.
The benefits of a proper workstation
A good workstation not only has long-term health benefits, but also improves the quality of employees’ work. If somebody is sitting uncomfortably, they are more likely to fidget and think about how much their back hurts instead of concentrating on their work. If you can take away those aches and pains, you’ll get a better quality of work from that person in addition to reducing their risk of developing severe back and neck problems.
What businesses should be doing
If businesses are asking their employees to work from home for the foreseeable future, it’s important to know where and how staff are working. Workstation audits are a fast and affordable way to identify what problems staff are experiencing if they’re working without suitable equipment. Once you know what these problems are, you can start working towards a solution.
What equipment businesses should be getting
The minimum equipment businesses should offer staff is a good office chair, laptop stand and separate keyboard and mouse. With large numbers of individuals working from their kitchen or dining room table, these items help workers find a healthy sitting position and reduce long-term health damage.
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Businesses looking to go the extra mile should also consider investing in an electric sit/stand desk for their employees. When working from home, staff are sitting for longer periods of time with less interruptions, making it important to have the ability to change your working position throughout the day. This improves blood flow, which reduces stiffness and keeps the body feeling energised.
Better posture on a budget
There are many steps that can be made immediately to improve the way people work from home. Everyday objects such as cushions can be used to ensure somebody is sitting at the correct height. Books can also be used to adjust the height of your laptop or monitor.
In addition to improving your workstation, physical breaks are just as important to stretch your body. Have breaks every 20 minutes for water and to move around to stretch the body to improve blood circulation.
What to do next
As remote working becomes more common, businesses have a responsibility to look after their staff as they would in the office. If you have staff working from home, carry out a workstation assessment to find out what problems your staff are experiencing and which solutions are available. Posture People are also offering free webinars to discuss how to correctly set up a workstation with a Q&A from ergonomics expert Jo Blood.
By Jo Blood
About the author
Jo Blood is an ergonomics expert and MD of Posture People. Jo is an advanced Desk Screen Equipment assessor and has spent over 15 years assessing thousands of professional and home workstations. Posture People help people of all ages, shapes and sizes reduce strain and improve their physical health and offer expert advice to businesses and individuals about working from home.
