Three in four office workers blame desks for sickness: Badly set up desks and chairs cost companies £7bn each year
- - One in 20 even blame a ‘sick office’ for forcing them to quit their job
- - Half of office workers say they've had no workstation risk assessment in the last
- 12 months - despite it being a legal requirement
By JAYA NARAIN
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Badly set up desks and chairs cost companies more than £7billion a year in sick pay, a study found.
Half of all office workers say their workplace has made them ill and affected their home life.
Nearly three-quarters say they suffer ill-health as a direct result of poorly equipped desks, with around two-thirds of those forced to take medication to manage their condition.
Work-related illness: Nearly three-quarters say they suffer ill-health as a direct result of poorly equipped desks, with around two-thirds of those forced to take medication to manage their condition
And seven out of ten reported back pain, headaches or depression, leading one in five workers to miss 14 days of work a year, or almost three weeks.
One in 20 even blame a ‘sick office’ for forcing them to quit their job.
Four in ten workers complained about not being supplied with any vital desk equipment and only 16 per cent of workers used a specialist back support, while 19 per cent opted for a wrist support.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP, said: ‘The impact of the working environment on office workers’ health is all too often overlooked by employers.”
‘What is very clear from the research is that the way you work and the equipment you use has a major impact, not just on your workplace health, but on your wider health too.
‘On a daily basis I see many patients suffering particularly from back pain, and I ask routinely about workplace set-up because I know the consequences of poor posture and spending long periods sitting in the wrong position.
‘What’s worrying is that we are becoming a nation of ‘self-medicators’ to help ease pain, with workers choosing to sit in silence when they should be having conversations with their employers about making sure their workstation is set up to minimise the risk of long term health issues.’
The study by ergonomics specialist Fellowes suggests such absences cost UK bosses £7.2billion a year.
It found office workers complained that badly chosen furniture meant they had to spend time rearranging their desks to get comfortable.
Half of office workers said they had not had workstation risk assessment in the last 12 months despite it being a legal requirement.
Employees’ say that as well as affecting their working life personal interests and activities suffer with 14 per cent having taken time off sporting activities, 11 per cent giving up the sport altogether and another 11 per cent giving up interests and hobbies such as gardening.
Louise Shipley of Fellowes, said: ‘Most of us spend a great deal of time at our desks so we need to think harder about the conditions we’re working in – and invest in protecting our health and ultimately, our quality of life.
‘Employers have a responsibility to their employees and that includes making sure they can work safely and productively.
‘Investing in the right kind of supportive, ergonomic accessories and workspace assessments should be a part of that process to ensure they have a more engaged and healthy workforce.’
■ Forget a mug of hot milk – the key to good sleep is to work in a building with lots of windows.
Those exposed to 173 per cent more white light at work slept for 46 minutes longer a night and experienced less daytime dysfunction, research by Northwestern University in Chicago found.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335999/Three-office-workers-blame-desks-sickness-Badly-set-desks-chairs-cost-companies-7bn-year.html#ixzz2VYwOlmOc
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