ADOPTING THE RIGHT POSTURE

Some people working at home still don’t use suitable chairs and desks, which could lead to injury. Dealers need to help customers understand the importance of ergonomics for homeworkers – and help their bottom line too

W

hile homeworking has become much more common in the past two years, some people still do not have an adequate set-up to work effectively. While some may have spare rooms that can be turned into a comfortable home office, containing a desk, adjustable chair and such like, others have been making do working on sofas, dining tables, or even perched on the edge of a bed.

This is not a sustainable way of working, even if it is for just one or two days a week; all too often this is only thought about once the pain comes and, by then, the damage has been done. Injuries caused by poor posture include repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis, which can affect people in the long-term.

“There is nothing more damaging for a worker’s back than perching on the edge

of a bed trying to work on a laptop,” says Mark Galliano, managing director of Teknik. “Marginally better is a dining chair at a table, but even this doesn’t allow for the basic physical adjustments a user needs to protect their posture while working. It is important that desk workers have the same ergonomic attention when they are at home as they would if they were in their office - although the homeworking environment doesn’t always allow for it, so a little more creativity is needed.”

CHANGING BUYING HABITS

Indeed, as homeworking is becoming a more permanent arrangement for many – even if it is just for a couple of days a week –customers’ buying habits are changing, and it seems ergonomics is now a major part of their considerations.

“Ergonomic equipment purchases can be quite reactive in nature, but we are seeing a trend towards proactivity as hybrid workers look to upgrade their kit and gravitate towards solutions that have wellbeing benefits built in,” says Elisabete Wells, marketing manager at ACCO. “Employers are also encouraging this, looking to reduce sick days and consequent losses of productivity.”

In addition, remote and hybrid workers are looking for products that function well and fit into their home environments without looking like an eyesore. Manufacturers such as ACCO have responded to this by introducing ranges that are designed to look stylish in the home, and also be ergonomically effective. Products include laptop risers, seat cushions, footrests, monitor stands, and wrist and keyboard rests - available in colours that range from bright and bold to muted and minimalist.

“They provide all the wellbeing benefits of traditional ergonomic solutions, with the needs of the modern worker in mind,” says Elisabete. “Resellers should look to expand their offering beyond the standard, bulky black, offering to those with modern design. There’s also a great opportunity to upsell products that don’t require any installation and can work with customers’ existing furniture, and resellers should keep that in mind as well.”

RISING EXPECTATIONS

Simon Howorth, marketing and design manager at Dams, adds that customers’ expectations are rising. “When people first started working from home we were selling more of our budget office chairs,” he says, “but gradually, over the past two years, people have come to appreciate the value and importance of ergonomic office furniture and are now seeing it as a longterm investment for their health.

“An ergonomic office chair will conform to your body shape, prevent bad posture,

The best thing a dealer can do is to offer a broad choice of workstations and desks

People have come to appreciate the value and importance of ergonomic office furniture

keep your joints in a neutral position, and allow for proper hip and pelvis alignment. This lowers your risk of injury and strain, will give you more energy, and let you focus without distraction and discomfort. Home workers should also ensure that the space they dedicate for a home office has everything they need to function optimally during the working day.”

Simon points out that it isn’t just about the chair – positioning a laptop or monitor at eye level, or just below, is also recommended. “Monitor arms provide smooth and effortless adjustments that can be tailored to the user’s exact needs, allowing you to sit more comfortably at your home office desk while reducing lower neck pain and eye and back strain due to incorrect monitor positions.”

SPACE, MAN

For those with little space to play with in their homes, there needs to be some creativity in identifying the optimum space. “Clearly, if the worker has an area in their home that will allow for a good-sized desk space, the normal ergonomic considerations can be made - desktop area, ease of access for storage, wrist support, monitor height etc - but, sadly, this is not always the case,” says Mark. “Repurposing other furniture is sometimes an option, but the best thing a dealer can do is to offer a broad choice of workstations and desks so that even a small

‘stolen’ area in the home can be set up. “We need to recognise the additional aspects to consider of budget and taste - with budget being particularly salient at present with the escalating costs of living - so a broad spread of ‘good, better, best’ really matters. In a nutshell, the very basic minimum is an adjustable chair but, really, an established, fully-functioning home workspace is still a valuable aspiration – particularly for the new ‘hybrid’ workforce that operates within many organisations. A canny furniture dealer can see this and make the most of the opportunity.”

So that is the message for dealers – provide a broad range of ergonomic and stylish products to suit everyone’s needs. Whether the worker can convert a room into an office, or just find a small space for a laptop, posture is a priority and solutions for all needs should be available; liaising with customers to find out the needs of all employees will be crucial in this.

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