When we think of the modern office, we don’t typically associate it with physically demanding work. What’s so stressful about sitting at a desk for eight hours a day? It turns out, more than you expect.
Repetitive, prolonged periods of sitting have been shown to increase a person’s risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Some employees report that sitting all day has caused them to suffer stiffness and soreness in their backs and hips. All manner of ergonomic devices—from seat cushions to specially designed chairs and desk accessories—have been developed to mitigate these symptoms, but few of them directly address the issue of having a workspace that keeps you constantly sedentary.
Enter the standing desk. Standing desks have grown in popularity during recent years as employees and employers alike have begun to appreciate the benefits they offer. In this article, we’ll discuss those benefits, and how you can best incorporate standing workstations in your office.
What Are Standing Desks?
Standing desks, as the name implies, are desks or tables arranged at a height that lets their users stand while working at them. They come in a variety of forms, from fixed-height surfaces to adjustable designs that can transition between a traditional desk or a standing desk. Some designs are meant to accommodate one user, while others can support more for collaborative tasks.
Enter the standing desk. Standing desks have grown in popularity during recent years as employees and employers alike have begun to appreciate the benefits they offer. In this article, we’ll discuss those benefits, and how you can best incorporate standing workstations in your office.
Why Standing Desks Are So Popular
Standing desks offer a number of benefits to employees and employers alike. Here are a few:
- Comfort and Health
The ability to stand at work, even if for just an hour or two out of the day, has been shown to have a number of health benefits. It increases heart rate and metabolism, reduces back pain and joint stiffness, and improves circulation. Many employees even report that it increases their mood and energy levels.
- Increased Productivity
Employees who stand for some of their workday tend to be more productive. A study of office workers in the U.K. showed that those employees who had been given the option to stand at work were more focused and engaged, and accomplished more over the course of the day, than their peers who spent the day sitting.
- Talent Retention
All these elements add up to happier workers. Employees who feel healthier and more productive in the office are less likely to look for more comfortable workplaces elsewhere.
For these reasons, standing and height-adjustable desks have become a popular trend in offices everywhere. One survey showed that about 44% of employers provide or subsidize standing desks for their employees, an increase of 13% from just four years prior.
Are Standing Desks Right for Your Office?
Considering the above, it’s almost certain that at least some of your employees could benefit from standing desks. The real question is, what kind of standing desk is right for your workplace?
Standing desks come in a variety of designs, from single-user desks to multi-person work tables. What particular product you opt for will depend on your individual needs. You can view our full range of adjustable-height desks here.
How to Incorporate Standing Desks into Your Office
Bringing height-adjustable tables into your office should involve some careful planning. How many do you need? Where should they be placed? Here are some things to consider:
- Quantity
Of course, you could outfit each of your employees with a height-adjustable workspace, but for most companies this is neither cost effective or necessary. Think about how many of your employees will take advantage of a standing desk for how long to get the most efficient use of a single unit.
- Placement
It’s important to ensure that standing desks are not placed in areas where employees will not be looking over their colleagues’ shoulders or standing face-to-face. Desk placement should be planned accordingly.
- Arrangement
Do you require personalized desks for individual employees? Or would it be more suitable to have a particular portion of the office set aside for standing desk space? In the latter case, you’ll need to take care in rearranging the office such that it doesn’t complicate the existing floor plan. Likewise, you’ll need to consider IT integration.
How A Furniture Dealer Can Help
These considerations noted, you may find it beneficial to work with a furniture dealer in order to bring standing desks into your office. An experienced furniture dealer can consult with you to determine just how many standing or height-adjustable desks you need, and can help you integrate them into your office with minimal disruption to your existing plan. Moreover, your furniture dealer can handle all the logistics of the process, from selection to delivery to installation and IT functionality. Don’t go it alone—your furniture dealer can help!
