6 Workplace Ergonomic Solutions for Productivity

Workplaces are more different now than they ever have been before. Thanks to continuous developments in technology, the way we work physically have changed drastically as well. Office work has become a lot easier for us, though at the same time it has become very repetitive too.

The changes in the way we work have, with it, brought new challenges with ergonomics. These challenges have impacted workers in many ways, and have affected us physically. Recent studies show that over one million people who are working suffer from or have suffered from an illness related to work. Workers who are likely to fall ill or suffer an injury are less likely to be productive.

It's more important now than ever before to make sure workplaces are ergonomic and set up correctly in order to prevent any sort of work-related injury or illness and ensure worker productivity. After all, a safe, healthy worker is a happy and productive one. The wellness tips listed here can help workers both in an ergonomic office and at home to work more productively.

1. Assess the situation of your office

What are the issues currently affecting your workplace? Are employees there lacking in productivity due to their environment?

Every office and workplace is different, meaning that there are different ergonomic challenges for each. In order to improve employee productivity, first, you need to identify the challenges that employees are facing on a day-to-day basis. From here, you can begin adjusting and making fixes to the environment that are actually going to be beneficial.

The best way to source the correct information and identify the ergonomic challenges is by communicating with employees. Simply ask them what kind of issues they are encountering whilst working, and ask for suggestions on what needs to be changed and/or improved.

2. Maintain the correct posture

Workers are likely to be less productive if they are finding themselves physically uncomfortable during their working time. Spending hours seated in the same position can become discomforting; especially if the posture in which you are seated is not good.

Sitting in a neutral position will keep your spine aligned naturally. Avoid slouching, or sitting with a hunch, with your feet resting firmly on the floor. Investing in an ergonomic office chair will support this posture, and there are also footrests that can help with this too.

3. Adjust the position of your computer

Making sure employees are working comfortably is an essential part of a productive workplace. Having the computer positioned correctly will enable employees to get work done efficiently without strain or discomfort.

If using a keyboard and a mouse, keep both of these things directly in front of you to avoid overreaching and putting a strain on muscles during work.

The screen should be directly above where your keyboard is positioned. The top part of this should not be higher than your eye level, meaning you don't have to continuously tilt your head and move your neck. Monitor arms ensure that employees can adjust and suit their monitors to the most comfortable position.

The fewer aches and pains employees encounter as they complete tasks means that more time can be spent focusing on the work they have to do.

4. Prevent strain on the eyes

Employees can get very swept up in their work, which can be beneficial but at the same time not for the eyesight. Too much straining of the eyes can impact how likely a worker is to finish tasks and focus correctly when completing them. This is why it is important to prevent work-related eye straining.

Try positioning monitors an arm's length away from the eyes. Take regular breaks from the screen to look around and make sure the eyes are rested. It's also important to reduce the glare of the screen, by making sure the monitor isn't positioned in front of a window or bright background. There are optical glass glare filters, secondary task lights, and light filters that can be used here to also help.

5. Exercise with your standing desks

A key element of a productive ergonomic workspace is standing desks. These can be incorporated to make sure employees aren't always sitting down to complete their work, and have the option to engage other parts of their bodies whilst working.

Standing desks can help break up the day for employees so that they are not just in one position for the entire time that they are working. It also helps to avoid certain workplace injuries that may occur if an employee is spending too long sitting down, and can fight fatigue and other unproductive problems that workers face during the day.

6. Take breaks

Employees need to know that whilst it is important to focus and complete tasks, it's just as important to take breaks. Being productive in an ergonomic office space still involves allowing time to take short breaks from the screen.

Even if your workplace is ergonomically-friendly, workers can still find themselves overworking and not allowing time to take a breather from the work at hand. Make sure that they take a stretch, walk around, do some exercises, and move their bodies to make sure that when they are working, they're doing so in the most productive way.

Conclusion

Ergonomics is changing how we work and is making everything a bit easier for workers who might encounter certain issues with productivity.

Not only is an ergonomic workplace beneficial for the wellness of employees and their working experience, but it also benefits business productivity and gives workers space and a healthy environment they need to thrive.