According to some experts, sitting for too long can have a deleterious effect on a person's health. For example, sitting 8 to 12 hours per day is associated with a 90 percent increase in the risk of getting diabetes. Unfortunately, many people work in office settings where that's exactly what they do the entire time they're on the job. Healthy employees are typically productive employees, so getting your workers to stand more can be good for business. Here are two things you can do to help employees get moving.
Buy the Right Furniture
The first thing you should do is invest in furniture that supports this new healthy initiative. This means buying a different style of desks and chairs that encourage employees to stand.
Depending on your budget, you can do something as simple as purchasing taller desks and chairs. When the employee stands up, the desk will be at the right height for typing on the computer and viewing the monitor. The taller chair is for when the employee wants to sit down, thus it should be high enough to keep them at the same level they were when they were standing.
Unfortunately, this option may not work for every office, particularly if there is quite a bit of height difference between your employees. The taller desks and chairs may be too high for some and too low for others.
An alternative that can save you money is to purchase adjustable standing desk converters. These devices sit flat on the desktop and can be altered from a low position for when a person is sitting to a high position for when the person is standing. They are generally flexible enough to let the person adjust the height according to their needs, and you won't have to buy taller desks or chairs, since the employee can use their existing desks and chairs.
To get the best recommendation on standing furniture for your office, talk to a commercial furniture supply company.
Encouraging Employees to Stand More
Getting the furniture is only half the battle. Actually motivating employees to make the change will be the most challenging part. There are a couple of ways you can go about it. You can ease them into the change by requiring employees to stand for a set period of time each day. For instance, you can set an alarm so that they have to stand for the first five minutes of every hour (or every other hour). Employees may not mind since it's a small amount of time and the regularity will help them get into a routine.
Another option is to make it into a contest and reward employees who hit goals for minutes of standing. For instance, give each employee who manages to stand for an hour a day everyday a $5 gift card to a local restaurant.
Encouraging your employees to take up healthier habits can result in more focused and productive employees. For more information about choosing standing desks and related furniture, contact a commercial furniture store like D&R Office Works, Inc.
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