Technology has pervaded all areas of our lives and made them infinitely comfortable and convenient. At the same time, it has also contributed to making our lifestyles more stationary and less physically active. On the professional front as well, technology has transformed work into a largely sedentary affair. In such scenarios, employees have limited opportunities to maintain physical activity and limit their screen time while working. This has brought the importance of ergonomic work environments into the spotlight as organizations strive toward making the workplace healthier. However, with the current lifestyle that involves limited or no activity, these measures need to become essential organizational practices, rather than option value-adds as they are now. The Workspace and Ergonomic Cell at Godrej Interio surveyed over 500 individuals to understand the challenges they faced and the strategies they adopted to deal with issues associated with sitting for long hours at work. We found correlations between static postures and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), lack of awareness among employees on what they could do differently, and limited or no infrastructure in offices to address challenges associated with sedentary work behavior.
The consequences of being bound to the desk:
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Among physical complications, apart from the tendency to develop obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and cholesterol issues, MSDs are a major risk associated with prolonged sitting.
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Our research found that from the average of ten hours that an employee spent at work, over 64% of individuals spent close to nine hours sitting either on one’s own desk or in meeting or conference rooms. Sitting comes with monotonous low energy consumption, leading to low metabolic activity and reduced blood circulation.
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We also discovered that offices too are ill-equipped and often lack appropriate ergonomic furniture and infrastructure that would enable its employees to alternate postures while working.
Employees should alternate between sitting and standing:
Sit-Stand desks come to the rescue here. Sit-to-stand is a concept that promotes alternating between sitting and standing work positions to ease the stress that comes with sedentary working styles. The use of these desks has been scientifically proven to improve productivity, and concentration and enhance creativity. Improved productivity, reduced risk of weight gain, heart diseases, and strengthened leg muscles are among the many benefits of standing. As organizations and employees move towards a new normal way of working, the emphasis must be on healthier and active lifestyles aided by work environments that promote dynamic behavior within the workspace and beyond. However, it is essential to remember that too much of anything is not good - so while standing is an excellent alternative to sitting, standing for extended periods comes with its own problems. Alternating between postures is the ideal way to keep things going. After all, it is never too late to switch for good health!
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By Godrej Interio