Good seating is necessary for any employee spending at least hours on the desk. With the majority of nonessential workers now months deep into work from home setup, still, there are many who have not given a thought about investing in ergonomic solutions to their home office.
According to data gathered by the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is one of the most common reasons for absences from work. It accounts for more than 264 million lost workdays in a year. Furthermore, back pain is the number one leading cause of disability from work.
Apart from causing back pains, neck problems, and other health concerns, poor ergonomics could significantly affect your work performance and mood throughout the day. But before we delve further as to why we should value good ergonomics for our daily home office lives, let us know more about its definition.
What Is Ergonomics
Ergonomics or human factor is the scientific study that focuses on how humans and other elements of the system interact. It applies various theories, data, principles, and methods of design with the primary goal of optimizing human wellbeing and overall system performance.
The etymology of the term ergonomics comes from the Greek words ergon and nomoi, which means “work” and “natural law”, respectively. Accordingly, there are three major domains of ergonomics, namely: physical, cognitive, and organizational.
Of the three major areas of ergonomics, physical ergonomics is the most concerning in the workplace setting. Physical ergonomics focuses on human anatomy and human physiological and biometric characteristics as they relate to physical activity.
Benefits of Embracing Ergonomics
Encourage Proper Posture
It can be tempting to just grab a dining table chair or cozy up on a sofa while working from home. While this could be economical, it puts your health and well-being at risk. Traditional chairs usually re-enforce you to slouch or lean over your desk, and this leads to poor posture.
But by using ergonomic office chairs, you can significantly reduce these bad habits. Ergonomic office furniture usually has adjustable heights allowing your feet to be completely flat on the ground, while you sit comfortably with full back and neck support.
Combat Back and Neck Problems
Having serious back and neck pains is one of the health risks of prolonged poor posture sitting. Forward-leaning posture when working on your office desk can increase the pressure on your neck. Furthermore, this posture puts a lot of pressure on your upper back, severely affecting your entire spine.
Nonetheless, by using ergonomically-efficient office chairs, you help provide back pain relief and avoid other physical health problems. Ergonomic chairs are all designed to withstand different uses and provide neck, back, and lumbar support. It is not something your wooden dining chair or sofa could offer for hours on end.
Reduce Blood Sugar Level
Even when working from home, it is undeniable that most employees still eat at their working desk. Various studies have found out that a sedentary lifestyle, such as sitting all day, increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
But you can reduce this likelihood by investing in ergonomic office desks. Researches have shown that standing for at least 3 hours after lunch significantly reduces blood sugar spike by 43 percent than just continually sitting the rest of the day. Apart from that, it also helps improve digestion and reduces the risk of heart diseases.
Increase Productivity
An organization’s survival also depends largely on its employees’ performance. Not having proper and ergonomic furniture and equipment while working from home could reduce employee productivity. With back, neck pains, and eye strains to deal with, workers experience an elevated level of stress and anxiety.
Even when working from home, employees still need to embrace ergonomic designs. Companies may provide incentives to employees to encourage them to invest in ergonomic office chairs and desks. Although they might be pricey, the long-term benefits are worthwhile.
Aesthetic Value
Apart from its health benefits, ergonomic furniture also cultivates greater aesthetic appeal to your office. Making a first good impression upon clients is critical in any business, and you can do it by making your office look good.
With the sleek materials and elegant curves, workers who are even working from home are all the more motivated to perform their best when doing their job. Nowadays, there is plenty of office furniture that is not only ergonomically-efficient but aesthetically pleasing as well. With all these factors to consider, there is no more reason for you to still decline investing in ergonomic home office furniture.
