Year: 2016

With Winter fast approaching, it's easier than ever to stay at your desk on your lunch break and to get cosy on the sofa in the evening. But do you know how bad this sedentary behavior is for your health?

  Take a moment to think about exactly how much time you spend sitting in an average day. How long is your commute to and from work and are you seated for the journey? Do you work at a desk or sit in meetings for the majority of the day? Do you eat your meals whilst seated? Do your evening activities involve sitting down?

Research suggests that on average, we only spend three hours out of twenty-four standing up or walking.

You may think that this isn't a problem if you are within your healthy BMI and take measures to exercise regularly, but did you know that even if you visited the gym every day, the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle will not be offset?

So what are the effects of sedentary behavior?

The NHS website lists a number of issues such as:

• Obesity
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Certain Types of Cancer
• Slow Metabolism
• Issues with blood pressure
• Cardiovascular Disease

 

How can we change this?

You can take certain measures in order to tackle these effects, however, much like dieting, they depend upon self discipline and thus tend to fluctuate in success. Knowing this and taking note of the alarming health risks facing a large proportion of workers, the brains at Scandinavian Business Seating looked into creating a way to tackle sedentary behavior for workers without them even having to think about it. The HÅG InBalance™ Mechanism is the end result of their design. The mechanism perfectly complements a range of their ergonomically sound chairs, with the newest addition to their range - Sofi Mesh - also boasting the mechanism. InBalance™ allows the chair to act as a platform, enabling the user's body to move naturally and, as the name suggests, keeps them perfectly balanced whilst performing their day to day tasks.  

InBalance allows the range of chairs it is applied to, to be identified as "dynamic chairs", of which there are already many on the market. So, what sets InBalance™ apart from the rest?

HÅG handed the Sofi Mesh, fitted with the mechanism, over to the Karolinska Institutet (who award the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine) to study how beneficial the mechanism is to the user and to compare these results to other dynamic chairs on the market.     Using a range of high-tech tools, the institute measured the movements of a group of test subjects who were asked to perform a variety of tasks that were akin to general office work. They then asked the test subjects to carry out the same tasks when sitting in other conventional dynamic chairs and whilst standing. Results were compared thereafter. As many as 73% of the subjects reached levels of movement similar to taking a slow walk, classified as "light human activity", when carrying out their tasks in the HÅG SoFi Mesh chair. These results far surpassed those of the test subject's recorded movements when sat in a conventional dynamic chair. The InBalance™ mechanism also outperformed the results for standing up by the same margin. This was a surprising find as it suggests that standing is not enough in itself to combat issues that surround sedentary behavior and highlights that the body must actually be in motion in order to avoid associated health risks.  

Erlend Weinholdt, physiotherapist and lead ergonomist at Scandinavian Business Seating, highlights the importance of the Institute's findings and comments; "Everyone is talking about chairs that promote activity, but we are the only ones who can prove it".

So, knowing these results and with an easy fix on the market, what's stopping you from investing in your health?

 

      [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]

With the mental health of employees becoming big on the agenda of many business owners, one Satellite Communications company contacted us with a brief to carry out refurbishment works on their staff kitchen and break area, as well as create a brand new gym area to allow employees to relax and switch off.

The Brief

The company's previous staff kitchen was very old and tired, was hardly used by employees and was beginning to become more like a storage room than a relaxing break room. We were given a brief to create a modern space that reflected the company image and the value that they put on their staff. The re-fit had to be completed in time for an important meeting that the company was hosting in a few weeks time.

The Design

The design reflected the corporate identity and branding of the company whilst still creating a space that allowed staff to switch off from their day for the time that they were using the facilities. We incorporated a range of different furniture from "Oyster" and "Shore" chairs and stools to "Jive" benching to create a versatile and functional space. We also made use of a range of imagery to brighten up the walls which reflected projects that the company has worked on and their field of expertise, as well as to define the use of the rooms such as the running mural in the gym. From design to completion the refurbishment took six weeks and was finished in time for the company to show off the new area during their international meeting!  

Before and After

      [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]

On National Stress Awareness Day, we take a look at the importance of workplace design and ergonomics on the reduction of employee stress, fatigue, illness and absenteeism.

  According to Beautyman (2006), businesses that ignore the design and layout of their workplaces are failing to optimise the full value of their human capital. This is echoed by Amble (2005) who points out that poor workplace design is linked to lower business performance and a higher level of stress experienced by employees. Research by the Industrial Society in London suggests that many employers are beginning to take notice of the impact of stress on their businesses and see it as a matter of urgency to improve their employee's working environments. 74% of surveyed employers predicted that employee stress would become their greatest health and safety concern in the next few years, with 53% stating that this is an issue which employers should address proactively.

With this in mind, what is it that can be done to create a comfortable, productive working environment that provides a reliable ROI?

Looking at the balance of privacy and co-working spaces is a good place to start in catering to an array of personality types, fluctuations in employee moods and the levels of productivity required from employees. According to Monroe (1999), physical environments that foster creativity and interaction, whether in conference areas or in "casual collisions" in corridors or break areas, is important for building rapport and support networks, as well as improving communication and problem solving. Following on from this, Asirvatham (1999) and Umlauf-Garneau (2001), predicted that future offices will consist of very few fixed walls and will see an increase in mobile furniture, more laptops and a generous distribution of data and power outlets, allowing employees to choose their working space in order to reach their maximum productivity.

So, how is a well balanced workplace design that caters to a range of personalities and requirements reached?

Wallace (2001) predicted that the office cubicle will not be something that we see disappear, but instead, redesigned to reach a concept that allows for better acoustics and accessibility, leaving the onus for creating complete privacy on separate sound proofed rooms available for access on an as-and-when-basis. A good example of the type of "cubicle" that has been redesigned for the modern office is the Den range sold on our website. Available in a range of shapes and sizes and with great acoustics, Den is a flexible and dynamic solution to the classic, more restrictive cubicle. With this in mind, it is important to also factor in parts of office design that aren't always immediately obvious, such as aforementioned acoustics and types of lighting. Hower (1995), reports that high noise levels can cause irritation, increase stress and reduce productivity, whilst Smith (2001) reported that employees who are constantly working in a noisy environment show higher levels of adrenaline which, in turn, decreases their productivity and in some cases adds to absenteeism. Frank (2000) points out that lighting is a critical element in creating a comfortable working environment and that lower lighting levels, rather than fluorescent tubing, boosts productivity, although in these situations employees should be provided with individual task lighting which can be adjusted accordingly. Hower (1995), explains why lighting has such an impact on productivity with light levels affecting the endocrine system, cardiac rhythm and "the body clock". He goes on to add that lower levels of lighting increase memory function and focus, whilst daylight improves mood. According to a survey by Steelcase Workplace Index, 86% of participants stated that poor lighting caused them some form of discomfort i.e, headaches and watery eyes. According to the same survey, proper lighting would increase efficiency for 3 out of 4 of the participants. Lighting and acoustics, whilst essential in achieving a good ROI from your office refurbishment, are tricky areas of office design to get right. It is best to consult with your designer early on in the process in order to get these fundamentals correct from the start.

Now we've covered some of the larger aspects of a productive workplace, let's cover one of the essentials which is often over looked - ergonomics.

According to the Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Statistics (WRMSD) report by HSE for Great Britain 2016, the total number of WRMSDs in 2015/16 was 539,000 out of a total 1,311,000 for all work related illnesses, a total of 41%. An estimated 8.8 million working days were lost to WRMSDs, making an average of 16 sick days per case. A breakdown of the total days lost to WRMSDs shows that 36% were due to upper limb disorders, 39% to problems with the back and 26% to lower limb disorders. These sick days put a huge strain on a company's productivity and financially they take a toll with paid sick leave and any healthcare costs if included in an employee's benefit package. However, many of these cases can be avoided with investment in a simple ergonomics program. Offering staff the right ergonomics equipment such as a height adjustable desk, ergonomic chair and other accessories such as wrist rests can seem like a costly outlay. In many cases though, when the cost of sick days and health care and the decline in productivity is calculated against the cost of this equipment - much of which lasts for many years - it actually presents a huge saving. It's not just in preventing the sick days that ergonomics can help boost productivity either. Proper ergonomics can boost concentration, memory and mood which helps to make the employee more efficient during their working day.

If you are confused as to where to start with ergonomics, you can find an array of videos on our website to help you adjust your existing chair or guide you in choosing a new chair to suit your needs. We also offer a range of desks and accessories which all fit within a good ergonomics strategy for your business. With over 20 year's experience our advisors can help you to choose the right furniture for you ergonomics plan, as well as designing your office to help you get the most out of your staff and your investment in your workplace.

  [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]

Learning by Other’s Mistakes: An Insider’s Guide to Buying Office Furniture.

Whether you’re starting a new business, or just redecorating an existing one, the furniture you choose will say a lot about you. And believe it or not, there’s a lot to consider when making that purchase. When it’s time to start buying office furniture, you need to make sure to limit your mistakes. Buying the wrong chair, table or computer station can cause problems down the road that will cost you time and money, so always consider these few simple things when you are deciding which furniture to buy: The Business Plan The type of business you are in should always be on your mind when making any decision, and it should be no different when you are buying office furniture. Avoid buying anything impulsively: take the time to consider what the furniture will be used for. Do you frequently have clients at the office, or do you regularly speak over the phone or meet at a restaurant? How many employees do you have? Do traditional or stainless steel table legs suit your brand better? Each of these decisions — and more! — should reflect your business model and give employees and clients a sense of what you want your business to represent. Functionality, design and, of course, even price should be considered. Employee Comfort Employee comfort goes hand-in-hand with productivity: the more at ease your employees are, the better they will perform. It’s that simple. So when buying furniture, think about how it will feel to others around the office. Chairs with ergonomic designs and comfortable fabrics that offer good back support are a great starting point. Consider as well whether the chairs should be mobile for easy movement, or if they will work better as stationary seating. Adjustable heights, armrests and reclining options are also essential for employee comfort. Providing comfort can help save money in the long run as well. With better posture and relaxation, employees will be less prone to workplace injuries, which will save on worker’s compensation claims. Future Growth You should always take into account the way that new furniture will fit both your current and future office needs. Flexibility should be a top priority to maximize the life of the furniture. Even if some tables or chairs are more expensive than others, if you see them as a better fit, you should consider buying them. When purchasing furniture, think about how future technology may shape the office environment. Will the desks you buy now have enough space and provide easy, safe access to electrical outlets once computers, printers and phones are placed on them? With the prevalence of wireless technology, should you buy desks that are mobile and adaptable to save space? What will a conference room look like in 10 years? A receptionist’s desk? Thinking about the future will prevent buying mistakes that will cost you time and money. Purchasing new furniture is a big expense for any company. Always keep these simple things in mind when you make that next trip to a office furniture dealer.     [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]

Complementing the architect's design, we created a modern and engaging library area for a London based girl's school

  With all furniture designed, delivered and installed on time, we created a bright and modern new library area with custom built features. The new range of furniture included a brand new reception desk and seating for staff and new perimeter benching combined with LED lighting to maximise the use of space. We also created a new ICT area with new seating and desking with flush fitted power modules for a neat and practical finish. A soft seating area for reading or co-working was also installed. New bookcases were installed with a special, made to order feature, allowing tablets to be installed in the end panels.       [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]

“Wellbeing is very important,” he says. “The boom and bust mentality of work - people working ferociously to hit the deadline and then burning out - leads to peaks and troughs in performance. We’ve gone to extra lengths to create an environment where we attract the best people and once they are here they are able to do their best work.” Harris’s approach was borne from a frustration with old fashioned beliefs about office life. An “always on” culture where technology makes it difficult to switch off means many people are looking for more flexibility in where, when and how they work. Rethinking the open plan office He is one of a number of business leaders rethinking the design of offices to improve staff productivity. But it’s not all about toys and beds. Others, for example, are looking at the open plan design that has dominated workspaces since the 1950s. Once thought to facilitate more collaborative working, research now suggests open plan offices could actually be undermining productivity. A 2014 survey (pdf) of 10,500 workers across 14 countries, commissioned by office furniture maker Steelcase, found that 69% of people were not satisfied with their working environment, in part due to a lack of privacy. A separate Steelcase-commissioned survey of more than 39,000 workers found 95% of employees said they needed quiet, private places for confidential conversations, but only 41% said they could do so, and 31% had to leave the office to get work completed. Researchers have also suggested a correlation between employees who work in open plan offices with multiple colleagues and the amount of short-term sick leave those employees take. One of the main faults of the open plan design is that there is an assumption that all you have to do to boost creative collaboration is throw people together in one room, says Max Chopovsky, founder and CEO of Chicago Creative Space, a company that produces video and media content on office design and culture. But if your staff feel like they don’t have autonomy or someone who will listen to their voice, it’s irrelevant if they are in an open space or not, he adds. “The main problem is that companies are looking at Google, for example, and just wanting to have the same as them. They are not being authentic. They need to listen to their employees and understand what specifically they want beyond the basics like natural light, good internet connection and comfortable chairs. Harris admits his office would not be suitable for every business but it has proved a success, with absence from sickness low, staff retention high and employee feedback overwhelmingly positive. Key to making the concept work though has been ensuring that everyone buys into it. Office of the future Leaving aside debates about open plan offices, do we even need offices anymore? Advances in technology and remote working mean many staff can choose to work elsewhere. For Chopovsky, this does not mean the end of the office. If staff can choose to work elsewhere, the office could become a place where workers can have important social encounters and build professional relationships rather than simply knuckle down and work. That means a combination of open plan offices and private rooms. He believes companies should facilitate that by creating areas where staff can come together either for informal chats or company-wide meetings. This may already be happening in the UK. A survey of 1,100 British office workers, published in June, shows that most workplaces (70%) now also include a communal environment – break out spaces such as a shared kitchen or beanbag area – to work from or have meetings in, providing a space for more dynamic working. This is key to meeting workers’ needs, with almost a third (29%) deeming the ability to work from a variety of different locations in the office to be important, and almost half (48%) considering access to collaboration space with colleagues an imperative. Better designed offices are not the end of the matter, however. John Ridd, councillor of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF), says that while getting the design of the office right for your business and worker needs, it cannot be used as a panacea for improving employee wellbeing. “To me the major thing is looking at the design of a person’s job in terms of workload and responsibilities. That is going to be far more important in terms of increasing productivity and indeed the wellbeing of the individual – because it is the happy worker who works more efficiently.”   [yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1" description="1" submit="Sign Up"]