Office Work Stations

Most office workers are used to long hours at small, cramped spaces which can hobble their ability to think creatively and clearly throughout their work day. By making some specific small adjustments to office work stations and the way employees use them, businesses can increase both employee morale and productivity, while reducing or even eliminating the physical consequences of an unhealthy work space.

What’s the place where your employees spend most of their time when they’re at the office? Unless they’re a very senior level employee who is often in and out of meetings, the likelihood is that the bulk of their time is spent at their computer. Desk ergonomics are critical when setting up a work station, since sitting at the wrong height or with poor posture can cause back strain and repetitive stress injuries to computer users. Make sure that your employees can raise or lower their chair so that their elbows are level with the height of their desk, since this will reduce the strain on their wrists and forearms while typing and using their mouse. Additionally, they should be able to rest their feet either flat on the floor, or on a tilted foot rest that fits to their posture. This helps to keep their backs straight, reducing back pain.

Lighting should be adequate for all employees, and those who look at computer screens for most of their time need their management to be particularly vigilant when it comes to maintaining appropriate light levels. If possible, give each employee some access to daylight, since this can help improve moods and concentration.

Office work stations should reflect the culture and atmosphere you wish to cultivate within your office. Do your workers feel comfortable chatting across an open-plan arrangement? How does this affect the amount of time they spend working, and the quality of the work they accomplish during that time? Some creative atmospheres might find that the quality of work improves when employees are able to communicate openly with one another, while more clerical offices and departments may require lower levels of volume in order to concentrate on their individual tasks.

Finally, paying attention to the color and visual design of your office workstations can help motivate your employees by presenting them with a visually attractive place to spend their time. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, particularly when budgets grow tight, maintaining an attractive workspace that is appointed with modern, clean supplies makes people enjoy the time they spend in their cubicle more – with a subtle but effective knock-on effect of longer attention spans and higher levels of interest and innovation in their work.

Office work stations don’t need to be expensive to be effective. Selecting well-designed desks, chairs, computer equipment, shelving and décor on a budget is made easier with the use of online ordering facilities, and by paying attention to the ergonomics, lighting, atmosphere and design of your office work stations, you’ll be able to reap the reward of more productive staff.