FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Many small business owners and their employees are sitting in pain, according to a new study released by Staples and Steelcase.
The study shows that 88 percent of small business owners say office chairs impact employee productivity, yet 13 percent say their chair is so uncomfortable it prevents them from doing their job to the best of their ability.
Pain is common, with 31 percent of business owners saying they often experience pain or discomfort in their lower back due to their office chair; 19 percent experience pain in their neck; and 17 percent experience pain in the mid-back. Eighty percent of respondents say their office chair has caused numbness or tingling in their hands. The average office chair is 7.2 years old, and 44% of those surveyed can’t remember the last time anyone in their office received a new office chair. On average, employees spend 5.3 hours per day sitting in their chairs.
Ergonomic experts agree, workers should sit, stand and walk throughout the day. Experts recommend that a chair keep the worker oriented to their work, even when reclining. A chair should allow for adjustable height to keep both feet flat on the floor, and the worker should be able to sit in contact with the backrest at all times while the backrest supports the chosen posture, with even pressure on both the lower and upper back.
For small businesses that want to support employees with a better ergonomic experience at work, Staples now offers a full portfolio of seating solutions from Steelcase on Staples.com. Steelcase products, including global bestsellers Leap, cobi, and Buoy have been internationally recognized for their insight-leddesign and quality.
When asked what they desire most in an office chair, over half of small business owners (52%) wish their office chair had adjustable lower back support while one-third (34%) wish it had the ability to adjust the seat height and three in ten (30%) wish it had adjustable arm rests.
“As this survey reveals, many small business employees are sitting in pain, especially as they work with new technologies which cause new postures,” said Allan Smith, vice president, global marketing for Steelcase. “Workers today require an ergonomic sitting experience designed for the new ways in which we work. When workers have access to high-performance seating they can remain attentive, engaged and achieve their highest potential.”
Visit www.staples.com.
– Submitted by Caitlin Hostetler
