Office Seating Tips For Your Workplace

For those who work in an office setting, they spend the majority of their work day sitting in a chair – and probably a very uncomfortable chair. Sitting is one of the worst things for your spine because it places excess stress on it. That’s why it’s not uncommon for people to develop back problems when they sit in an office chair for the majority of the day. Not only is this a pain (literally) for employees, but also it creates problems for the company. Productivity is lost due to employees missing work or taking leaves of absences for chronic back pain.

The best way to avoid a workplace full of back problems is to provide ergonomic seating and educate employees on healthy ways to sit. Ergonomic office chairs that provide lower back support and promote good posture are available for almost every budget. Let’s explore office seating tips for your work setting.

Seat Height

Choose chairs that have multiple heights that can be easily adjusted. Usually chairs that are 16 to 21 inches off the floor work for most people. This allows them to keep their feet flat on the floor and their arms even with the height of the desk.

Seat Width

The seat of the chair should provide enough width to seat the person comfortably. Usually 17 to 20 inches wide is adequate.

Seat Depth

The depth of the seat is another important factor, as you want employees to sit with their back against the backrest while leaving 2 to 4 inches between their knees and the chair.

Lumbar Support

The spine has an inward curve, so sitting for long periods of time without the right support will cause your employees to slouch. This will then cause pain and discomfort that interferes with work. Choose office chairs that feature lumbar adjustments to support this natural curve.

Backrest

The backrest of your office chairs should be 12 to 19 inches wide. It should support the natural curve of the spine and be adjustable in forward and back angles.

Armrests

Not only should your office chairs have armrests but also they should be adjustable. Employees should be able to sit comfortably with their arms resting in order to avoid fatiguing shoulders, back and neck while typing.

Swivel

The purpose of swivel chairs is to reach different areas of the cubicle – the desk, file cabinet, dry erase board, etc. – without having to strain the body. Any ergonomic chair should swivel with no problem.

Material

Too many office chairs have little padding, and this is extremely uncomfortable. Select office chairs that have lots of padding rather than a hard surface. This makes sitting for long periods of time more comfortable.

We hope that these office seating tips have helped you better understand how you can keep your employees happy, healthy and productive throughout their workday. Ergonomic chairs are one of the best investments you can give your workplace, and they will continue to pay out rewards with boosted productivity, happier employees and less time off work. For quality, ergonomic chairs at an affordable price, contact Extra Office Interiors.