Working in the corporate world is taxing, to say the least. Whether someone is an accountant chained to their desk all day long or an operations manager overlooking the assembly line, doing a corporate job isn't anything but exhausting. Once that exhaustion goes on for a long time (which it does), people in the workforce get hurt, which leads to hefty medical bills under the company’s name. Simply put, exertion on the job results in employees burning out and eventually getting injured.
And truth be told, there isn’t really anything an employer can do to make work less weary. However, what an employer can do is make working conditions favorable for their employees using ergonomics.
Not sure how that’s possible and why your company needs an ergonomic program? Well, read on and learn all about it.
An Ergonomic Plan and Ergonomics
An ergonomic plan refers to the framework companies create to design their workspace according to the needs of their employees. In simple terms, the strategy dictating how to make an office favorable for its workers is known as an ergonomic plan. The entire science of developing an ergonomic blueprint is called ergonomics.
Ergonomics have become an integral part of most corporations, and rightfully so! With an ergonomic program at play, employees are more likely to feel less tired by the end of the day, thanks to the comfort and support of ergonomics.
That said, many enterprises remain unconvinced of the potential of an ergonomic strategy and what it can do for their business. As a result, they don't yet have ergonomics incorporated into their workspace. To convince business owners to become pro-ergonomics, here are some of the top reasons why every business should have an ergonomic plan.
Enhanced Efficiency at Work
As already mentioned, working is tiring and understandably so. When people get tired, they are bound not to perform their best. Simply put, as workers spend hours completing tasks and meeting deadlines, their energy tapers off, leaving them drained and affecting their work quality. However, the good news is that an employer can prevent that from happening by creating an ergonomic work environment.
A workplace equipped with ergonomic articles such as Pro Plus Standing Desk (E7) or a mesh chair enables employees to work efficiently and remain focused throughout the day. This results in better results in a short amount of time.
Naturally, if a person doesn’t get beat sitting on an uncomfortable chair, they can concentrate on the task at hand and do their job much more diligently.
Improved Employee Health
When employees work at stations designed according to their requirements, i.e., their height and physique, they are less likely to get physically strained.
Musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs are common ailments resulting in painful bones, ligaments, joints, and muscles. Studies show that approximately 1.9 million Americans suffer from MSDs, most of whom develop a musculoskeletal condition due to working in an unsuitable office space.
Workers typically have to do a particular job every day, which means they don't get to change positions much unless, of course, they have an occupation of physical nature. Nevertheless, most people are chained to a desk in corporate offices, typing away on their laptops. This means they have to sit in chairs all day, every day. If said chairs are uncomfortable, they will cause severe stress on the sitter's body, ultimately resulting in painful muscles, joints, bones, etc.
Long story short, if a person doesn’t have their work table and chair supportive of their body structure, they will suffer from injuries. Therefore, as an employer, one must ensure that they provide all their recruits with ergonomic furnishings to minimize the occurrence of workplace-related maladies.
Good physical health means employees will take fewer sick leaves, resulting in overall increased productivity at the workplace.
Reduced Compensation Costs
According to a 2012 study, employers had to bear more than $20 billion in workers’ compensation costs, missed workdays, hospital charges, etc. The said figure may not be the same as of today due to the increased awareness about ergonomics, but it is still there, and workers continue to get injuries on the job.
With a carefully crafted ergonomics program, business owners can significantly reduce their workers’ compensation expenditure.
Naturally, when a person has an adjustable chair with options to recline, rock, tilt, and shoot the footrest, among many other advanced features, their chances of developing a medical condition will be much slimmer. That means, as an employer, you will not have to bear hefty treatment costs or look for substitutes to make up for missed workdays.
Increased Employee Engagement
Listless workers begrudgingly click away on their laptops, waiting for the day to end - such is a familiar scene in many offices. As shocking as it may be for you, dreary employees are present in every corporate office for a multitude of reasons. Some may be so because they don't like their job, whereas others may be so because their neck and back hurt working at a desk all day.
While nothing can be done about the first cause of employee disinterest, the second one is surely fixable. How? With ergonomics.
Providing individuals with comfortable and supportive ergonomic articles will keep them much more at ease, allowing them to engage in office affairs much more actively.
No enterprise can do well if its workforce is dull and uncomfortable doing assigned tasks. Therefore, incorporating ergonomics into a corporation is essential.
Improved Mental Capability
When is a person the most mentally responsive? Or when is a person able to pick up things faster and think outside of the box? If your answer was 'when they are relaxed,' then you are absolutely right.
If someone feels even the tiniest bit stressed mentally or physically, their mental capacity is compromised. And that's something you don't want to happen with your employees in your office, or else your business will suffer.
Well, no need to worry; there is a simple solution, come up with an ergonomics program to ensure your workers are comfortable at their workstations so that their intellectual abilities are heightened.
Using ergonomics to improve your workforce's mental capability may seem ludicrous, but it's not. The human mind is an extraordinary entity that picks up on whatever goes on in the body within seconds. This means if a person's body is under stress for, let's say, sitting without proper lumbar support, their brain will pick up, resulting in divided attention between work and pain.
In simple words, stress doesn't always have to be psychological to shake our cognitive ability. Many a time, physical tension, such as a stiff neck, can also affect our mental faculties. And that is why bringing ergonomics into the workplace is vital.
Increased Employee Trust
In order to run a successful business, winning employee trust is imperative as it will ensure that the workers in a company will do their best to benefit the enterprise.
In simple terms, as a business owner, you need to do all that you can to convince your employees that you have their interests in mind and that you are not only concerned about making massive profits. One way of doing that is using ergonomics.
When you give workers comfy chairs and well-suited desks to do their job, they will feel cared for, which will motivate them to perform remarkably.
If you want your business to thrive, you have to make sure that your workforce is happy and thriving as well. Otherwise, no matter how hard you try, your brand will suffer. You need to understand that your corporation stands on your employees, which is why keeping them happy should be your priority. And using an ergonomic plan is one of the easiest ways to achieve that.
A Safer Environment
When all the workstations in your office are designed to suit your employees, your entire workspace will have a safer environment.
Once you witness the health benefits of implementing an ergonomics program, you will bring it into every part of your place of work. Resultantly, you will fashion meeting rooms, waiting areas, auditoriums, and communal areas ergonomically, creating an overall secure work environment.
All that will also motivate people to make safer choices, such as updating their workstations, keeping ergonomics in mind, and encouraging safety in the workplace.
Where to Start?
Now that you have read through the article, you must be convinced of enforcing an ergonomics strategy in your office. But the only question remains, where do you start? It’s simple, pick one room or floor at a time and then move your way up.
Let's say you choose the first or ground floor, then start by bringing in ergonomically constructed chairs and desks to commence the transformation process. Once you are done with the selected area, move on to another.
Additionally, don't forget to involve your employees. Ask them for ideas and what you can do to make their time at work the utmost comfort. Remember that you are going pro-ergo to create favorable working conditions for your workforce, so taking their opinions into account is a must.
Ending Note
Ergonomically-fashioned workplaces do much better business-wise, i.e., yield hefty profits, and have unmatched employee satisfaction. If you want all that is said for your brand, you need to put your money into ergonomics!
