Are you still in love with your sit-stand desk? If you have taken a leap of faith and invested in a standing workstation – is it all you hoped it would be? Making the switch to a standing workstation can be a great thing, but we’d like to help you make the most of it with a few ergo tips!
Make sure you are standing properly. This means no locked knees, no leaning on one leg all the time, etc. You also still need to add movement to your workday. Taking micro-breaks to walk, stretch and do other activities is important. Another thing to remember is to always wear supportive shoes. Make sure you are not standing too much. Some people radically shift from sitting to standing for hours and hours a day. Remember that doing anything for hours and hours is hard on your body – even standing. Lastly, make sure the keyboard/mouse height and the monitor height are just right in both sitting and standing positions.
Be aware of what your body is telling you. You’ll know you’ve been standing too long if you find you have:
- Swelling in your feet or legs.
- Numbness or tingling in your feet or legs.
- Soreness in your knees or bottoms of the feet.
- Been leaning on the desk while standing. (this could mean you are tired)
A good guideline to follow when using a sit-stand desk is to try standing about 15 minutes out of every hour. If you notice any issues arising, such as swelling, numbness, tingling or pain, or if you have prior medical conditions, make sure you check with your doctor.
If you have tried standing and feel like it’s just not working for you – don’t force yourself to stand. Standing to work is not for everyone. Remember the most important thing you can do is add movement into your day. Try 2-3 minutes every hour and make sure to get away from your desk during breaks!
I got them all standing desks, but they aren’t standing!
So, you invested in sit-stand workstations for your team and you can’t believe that more of them don’t stand. It can be frustrating to feel like your dollars have not been used wisely – but don’t give up! There are some things you can do to encourage people to use their new furniture for maximum benefit.
Sit-Stand Desk Training
Training your team to use their furniture is critical for success. Training should include showing them how to make adjustments to the workstation, teaching them what height to use the keyboard/mouse and monitor, how long to sit, how long to stand and safe standing postures.
Use Activity Reminders
Increase awareness by reminding people about standing and moving during the work day. Email campaigns, newsletters, and flyers are usually easy and affordable ways to remind people. Have printed materials (like an infographic) available that give employees a quick visual summary of the guidelines. Remember that it takes several weeks of training and awareness to successfully implement change. Educate your managers and get their help to remind people how to use them. Create a culture of moving and standing: encourage standing or even walking meetings.
Investigate
Ask employees what they think and how they feel. There may be a reason they aren’t standing. Keep in mind that standing is not for everyone. Some people have medical complications that would make standing during work unsafe for them. Some people cannot concentrate well while standing. Others simply feel awkward. Never try to insist that people stand.
If you have invested in height adjustable desks, you may have another hidden benefit besides the ability to stand, ideal keyboard height. If the desk surface or keyboard surface is height adjustable, your employee will be able to get in a safer seating posture than with a fixed height desk. This adjustability is more likely to fit larger numbers of people, which makes adjusting individual workstation less cumbersome.
Whether you and your employees are finding a true love or maybe “just friends” relationship with sit-stand desks, it’s a good idea to contact professionals for training and proper usage instructions, as well as an ergonomic evaluation. Let us know if we can help!
Show Your Team Some Love with an Ergonomics Evaluation
