Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their workplace, fitting work to people, and its purpose is to support safe and comfortable work.
The Government of Canada describes the top three ergonomic risks in the workplace as:
- repetition (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome from typing)
- awkward postures (i.e., straining to reach a mouse)
- static forces (i.e., sitting at a desk for long periods of time)
Ergonomic furniture provides the workforce with better equipment in order to optimize posture, reduce strain on the body, and support day-to-day activities. Because of the added research and development costs, ergonomic furniture is understandably more expensive than traditional office furniture.
Recommending ergonomic furniture to your client will more than likely require an explanation of the benefits and a justification of the expense. But with a long-term view and some insight into the return on investment, you can show that ergonomic furniture supports workplace wellness, as well as the financial health of the organization.
3 Ways to Get Your Clients to Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
1. Improve Productivity
The purpose of ergonomic furniture is to eliminate the risks in the workplace. By minimizing exertion, straining, and reaching, employees can perform work more efficiently. The Leavitt Group states that productivity can naturally increase as a result of an ergonomic workstation.
In addition to the time savings and efficiencies gained through an ergonomic office space, absenteeism also decreases. Employees that were once susceptible to aches and pains from improper sitting or standing postures won’t be as likely to require time off to address their ailments. Your client will further improve productivity through a decrease in the number of sick days.
2. Reduce Long-Term Costs
Approximately one-third of all workers’ compensation costs are spent addressing musculoskeletal disorders. According to Dr. Wayne Albert, Dean of Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick, office ergonomics can have a positive impact on musculoskeletal health. Risk factors for these costs can be reduced by providing employees with better furniture.
While the upfront cost of the ergonomic furniture may be a tough decision for your client, the return on the investment in long-term compensation will be substantial.
3. Foster Better Quality Work
The Wall Street Journal explains that employees actually work harder when they feel better. Logically, this conclusion makes sense: when employees aren’t in pain or uncomfortable, they can focus all their efforts on the task at hand.
Employees that feel supported and invested in will also enjoy coming to work. Knowing that their employer values their health and wellness is great for corporate morale, and could improve retention, creating happy and productive team members.
Upfront Investment in Ergonomic Furniture Decreases Long-term Costs
Armed with the data above, you can confidently discuss the budget you’ve proposed for ergonomic furniture. But if it’s still a point of contention, you might consider looking into refurbished ergonomic office furniture as a cost compromise. Envirotech offers quality refurbished products, with five-year warranties, so that ergonomic furniture is accessible to all businesses.
References:
https://news.leavitt.com/business/improving-productivity-ergonomic/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/healthy-workers-are-more-productive-study-finds-1502219651