Hybrid working is now well established in many organisations, but some are still not ensuring that home work stations are ergonomically optimised, and this can lead to problems for individuals and their employers if not addressed.
Hybrid working has been established in the UK for more than five years now. When it first took off during the pandemic, many people started out at kitchen tables or in bedrooms out of necessity, having been forced to work at home at short notice. Now, many people work at home regularly, some have more permanent setups in place with dedicated furniture, yet some still don’t.
“Despite 81% of businesses supporting hybrid working, only 63% of employees have a designated work area at home,” says Annaliese Curtis, trade marketing manager – UK & Ireland at Fellowes, taking statistics from Fellowes-commissioned research from January. “This leads to makeshift setups that aren’t ergonomically correct. Indeed, 75% say their workstation assessment was done a long time ago or not at all, and only 21% believe their employer is investing in the right ergonomic equipment.”
In addition, Leitz’s GfK research among desk workers assessed where people are working, when they are at home and while 47% say they have a room set aside for working in, the rest are fitting in with other needs: 22% of the sample are working in a dedicated space that is part of a larger room, 17% work in a temporary place in their main living room, 5% in the kitchen and 6% in the bedroom.
Martina Alexander, marketing director at Leitz, adds that many employees will not have their hybrid workspaces ergonomically optimised. “Whether employees are working in traditional offices, from their homes, in co-worker spaces, always travelling from one digital oasis to the next, or adopting a hybrid work model, their wellbeing is essential for personal and organisational success, from absenteeism to staff retention to individual and collective quality of output,” she says.
Problems incoming
Not having an optimised ergonomic setup in a home office can cause problems for employees – and their employers as a result. “When the set-up isn’t right, employees can suffer from back pain, eye strain or repetitive stress injuries,” notes Kevin Xing, product manager at BOLEO. “For employers, it often shows up as people needing more time off or struggling to stay focused. At the end of the day, if people aren’t comfortable, their work will suffer too.”
James Mackie from BestBuy Office Chairs, adds that in the long-term unergonomic furniture poses a higher risk for the development of serious musculoskeletal issues. “This can result in poor concentration and decreased productivity when working from home,” he says. “This is not only an issue for employees, but it can negatively impact a company’s overall performance.”
Annaliese agrees that poor ergonomics can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. “Two in three workers experience pain or discomfort, with 50% feeling it most days,” she says. “Over a third have taken time off due to pain, and the average cost of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is around £6,500, according to Gitnux.
“Only half of employers address all issues found in assessments, despite a legal obligation to protect staff from DSE-related health risks. Up to 75% of employees are considering leaving for a job that better supports their wellbeing.”
Martina notes that people are sitting more and moving less. “Sitting too much is unhealthy but those who work ergonomically not only ensure a pain-free feel-good situation at their workplace, but also better results,” she says. “Sitting down for longer periods can shorten life expectancy and increases the risk of numerous diseases. Musculoskeletal diseases are one of the main reasons for absenteeism.
“A high percentage of health problems suffered by employees are due to inadequate ergonomics in the workplace. For example, in 2021, 21.5% of absences from work were due to diseases affecting joints, bones and muscle.
“Taking these principles and relating them to wellbeing, it can be argued that companies that recognise that the wellbeing of their people is a driver of performance and profitability, will prosper disproportionately to those that don’t.
“Consider the benefits. Companies have many benefits to exploring and improving their workplace ergonomics for the positive benefits to their workforce, both in the office and at home. People are a company’s most precious assets. Wellbeing is an investment, not a cost.”
Product discussions
There are various pieces of furniture that can be invested in to provide an ergonomic workspace, which resellers should be discussing with customers when home working is part of the conversation.
“The essentials make the biggest difference: an adjustable chair, a desk that fits the space, and a monitor stand to get screens to eye level,” says Kevin. “Even smaller items like footrests or wrist supports can prevent long-term health issues.
“It’s no longer just about selling a chair or a desk. Resellers can help companies think holistically about the workspace, whether at home or in the office, to support employee wellbeing and productivity.”
James adds that ergonomic desk chairs are an important piece of furniture for any home office. “When working from home employees will typically spend at least eight hours per day sitting in a chair, it’s crucial that this chair offers significant support to prevent injuries,” he says. “A good ergonomic office chair will include built in lumbar support for the lower back, adjustable seat height, moveable armrests and an adjustable head support.”
Martina says that a few small changes can have a big impact on an individual’s personal wellbeing and health. “We have experienced growth in the total ergonomic category with our Leitz range,” she adds.
“Standout products include our sit-stand stools, wobble cushion, footrests, sitting balls and laptop risers. All these products enable the users to sit, stand and move – movement is key to reducing disease and improving comfort and wellbeing. Our active sitting stools provide comfort, functionality and encourage improvement in overall health, whether in the office or home, by incorporating activity into everyday life. These products can work perfectly around an office and complement existing furniture.
“Traditional ergonomic desk equipment is often expensive, cumbersome and lacking in flexibility. Leitz Ergo Sit Standing Desks are easy to adjust, store and move around with your day, they can be used to instantly transform any space to keep you moving and prevent any aches and pains.
“Similarly, the Leitz Ergo Laptop Stands fold flat for simple storage and are easily portable – so you can make your home, co-working space or office desk, equally ergonomically correct.”
Annaliese says resellers should highlight Fellowes’ Breyta and Alumia ranges, which are designed to support hybrid working. “Alumia is a dedicated laptop stand range, with portable models available now and desk-based versions coming soon,” she says.
“Breyta offers a broader selection of portable ergonomic accessories, including laptop stands, monitor risers, footrests, seat cushions and a laptop carry case that converts into a stand. New additions – portable mousepads and wrist rests in a variety of colour finishes – are coming soon, with desk mats already available now.”
Trends
But as home working becomes more established, so customers’ demands of their furniture is changing, which resellers should be aware of. For instance, Kevin says that people want flexible and space-saving solutions that also look good in the home. “I think that trend will continue, but we’ll also see growing demand for sustainable materials and designs that can adapt as work patterns change,” he says.
James says ergonomic and adaptable furniture pieces with health-focused designs are among the current furniture trends for hybrid workspaces. “This includes supportive desk chairs, desks with adjustable heights, footstools, laptop stands and so on,” he says. “In addition, there is a huge focus on furniture designed with space-saving and modular features so they can be adapted for different uses and fit comfortably in even the smallest of spaces.
“As hybrid work models remain popular there’s no doubt that ergonomic furniture demand will continue to grow and evolve to improve employee wellbeing and productivity.”
Annaliese agrees that there’s growing demand for flexible, health-focused furniture. “But buyers should be wary of cheap alternatives that lack proper adjustability and long-term comfort,” she warns. “With 89% of workers reporting they feel healthier, more motivated and productive when using ergonomic equipment – and effective ergonomics reducing staff turnover by 87% – this trend is set to continue and evolve.”
Martina adds that wellbeing is a mega-trend. “It signifies global change, increasingly included alongside health and the economy and governmental metrics,” she says. “Wellbeing is becoming a focus for individuals, companies and governments. Legal regulations always specify the capacity for change in workplace design. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC is a European Union directive for all EU members, with the objective of introducing measures that encourage improvements in the health and safety of employees at work. Legislation on equipment in offices and at home will only become tougher, not looser.
“Then there’s the impact of changing demography, for example the different values that young people bring to the workplace and the ageing profile of the workforce in most countries are driving factors. Millennials and Gen Z prioritise wellbeing and see a life beyond work. As the employers of the future, they are influencing workplace policies and design.
“McKinsey’s 2024 analysis of spend in wellbeing categories shows Gen Z and millennial consumers spend more on wellness products and services, across all individual sectors. Wellbeing is gaining more and more traction, and this is likely to continue.”
This article first appeared in News in the Channel issue #33.
