A recent study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that employees on sick leave with neck and back problems have risen by 31% since the start of the pandemic.
Has working from home caused this increase?
Although not every occurrence of neck and back pain can be attributed to employees working from home, the rapid increase in musculoskeletal problems points to it being a significant factor.
And there are several reasons for this:
- Incorrect chair and desk height
- Position and height of the monitor
- Lack of Posturepedic equipment (lumbar support, etc.)
- Working for long periods without breaks
- Sitting on soft furniture (couches, beds, etc.)
At the time of writing, it’s almost three years since the pandemic forced staff to work from home hastily, but in that time, many still don’t have the correct equipment in place.
Are employers doing enough to help their home workers?
It’s impossible to answer no to this because many businesses will have worked hard to ensure staff working from home have everything they need to work comfortably. But the reality is, with chronic neck and back pain increasing, a lot still aren’t doing enough.
How you can make staff comfortable when working from home.
Just like in the office, employers need to review the working conditions in their employee’s home office. But if this isn’t an option, there are steps you can take to help your employees work comfortably:
Ergonomic chairs
An ergonomic chair should support the spine’s S-shape comfortably. As a result, employees won’t have to hunch forward, which strains their necks, shoulders, and backs.
Lumbar support
Lumbar support cushions are cheaper if a mass purchase of ergonomic chairs isn’t possible. These support the lower spine, correct posture and, in some cases, can reduce sciatic pain.
Laptop stands
A laptop screen placed on a desk is likely too low, causing neck and back strain as the user leans forwards.
Laptop stands raise the screen to the correct height.
Detachable keyboard
A detachable keyboard reduces strain on the neck and back as it’s positioned closer to the worker than a laptop keyboard.
Vertical ergonomic mouse
A non-ergonomic mouse positions the hand, wrist and arm at an unnatural angle, leading to repetitive strain, tennis elbow and neck problems. A vertical ergonomic mouse places the hand in a more natural position (like a handshake), reducing strain on the wrist, arm and neck.
Are your employees sitting comfortably?
If your home or office workers struggle with neck and back issues, you must act now.
Talk to the Tech-Sit team today.
By supporting your workers with ergonomic seating, not only will you see an improvement in mood and concentration, but you’ll also see an increase in productivity too.
Are you sitting comfortably? No?
Then call us now on 0845 051 3812 or email info@techsit.co.uk