A specialist in designing offices ergonomically for computer workstations have given the top reasons why you should offer your employees the choice to stand and sit alternately whilst working.
BakkerElkhuizen has given the five top reasons why standing and sitting during the working day can boost wellbeing. They are:
- Improving your circulation, as standing and sitting ensure better blood circulation throughout your body as it allows your brain to function better as more oxygen reaches it and your concentration level increase
- It increases your creativity as by both standing and sitting your brain is 2.5 times more likely to think of new ideas
- It burns more calories when you alternate between standing and sitting your heart pumps 10 times more blood through your body compared to someone who just sits, typing on a keyboard does not burn many calories
- By doing this you are less likely to be overwhelmed by a feeling of sleepiness, which has a more noticeable effect during the afternoon
- Research conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia shows that sitting for long periods without alternate standing, has a negative effect on one’s metabolism, so much so, that employees are at higher risk of developing diabetes and heart conditions.
BakkerElkhuizen said:
It is obvious to right-thinking people: standing all day is not good for your health. Neither is sitting all day. Yet many employers require their employees to stand all day – or vice a versa: out of necessity, their (office) work takes place largely while sitting. Variation is the keyword.
All the experts agree that only sitting or only standing while you work isn’t the solution. However, they are enthusiastic about a combination of both. Office furniture must be suitable for both sitting and standing while working and that employees be trained in the appropriate way to stand whilst at work.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
