Progressive and forward-looking business leaders are always looking for innovative ways to improve their workplace; both because it is good for employees, and because it is good for the bottom-line. And over the last few years, one of the most effective and exciting introductions to the office furniture roster are sit-to-stand desks.
As the term suggests, sit-to-stand desks enable employees to easily and quickly raise or lower their desk height, so that they can alternatively sit or stand. And because the adjustment can be customized, it is suitable for employees of all heights: from the more petite members of the workforce, to starting center of the corporate basketball team.
Below, we highlight the 4 key workplace benefits of sit-to-stand desks, which are now a staple office furniture component of any advanced, ergonomic and employee-centric organization:
1. Enhanced Employee Health
The most well-known benefit of sit-to-stand desks is that they enhance employee health in several ways. Chiefly, the design helps employees avoid sit at their desks for long periods of time. Indeed, the dreaded “sedentary lifestyle” that health experts are sounding alarm bells about contribute to everything from weight gain and obesity, to joint, muscle and flexibility problems, and even serious ailments like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A study published in the Journal of Preventative Medicine found that employees with sit-to-stand desks spend about an hour more on their feet each work day, and 66 fewer minutes sitting down compared to their colleagues with ordinary desks.
2. Improves Collaboration
It may sound somewhat “low tech” in our hyper-digital world of work, but the evidence is easy to see: employees who (by their own choice) spend part of their workday standing up are simply more likely to interact and engage colleagues, since it is more convenient to do so.
For example, instead of sending an email to someone sitting in an office or a cubicle 30 feet away (which in some larger organizations can happen hundreds, if not thousands of times a day!), employees who are standing at their sit-to-stand desk are just as likely to walk over and have a face-to-face conversation. Or, since they are already standing up, they may be more likely or amenable to having a quick meeting or connecting with someone from another business unit or department.
Again, this may seem rather strange since all we are talking about here is the difference between an employee sitting at their desk, or standing at their desk. However, the fact remains that for some employees, this does indeed have a major influence on their willingness to collaborate; especially with people outside of their direct team or work group.
3. Reduce Absenteeism and Medical Costs
A healthier workforce can mean that more employees spend time at work vs. absent due to illness (including fatigue). It also could mean lower medical costs, as both claims and claim amounts diminish. This cost savings can be dramatic in some environments, and more than pay for the investment in sit-to-stand desks.
4. Improve Recruitment
Last but not least, in some industries and marketplaces, competition for top talent is ferocious. Sit-to-stand desks are very state-of-the-art and innovative, and look like something out of a brochure on workplace ergonomic best practices. This can help tip the scales in favor of a progressive employer vs. a competitor that has a more ordinary and conventional environment.
Learn More
Sit-to-stand desks are here to stay, and this is great news for both employees and employers alike. To learn more about enhancing your work environment with this valuable office furniture innovation, contact the Key Interiors team today. We will help you re-imagine your layout and optimize your space, and choose the ideal sit-to-stand desks that fit your people, vision and budget.
For more information on office design and if the open and collaborative approach is right for your business, download our FREE eBook:
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