Insights
The health consequences of sedentary behaviour such as sitting for long periods of time can be devastating. Those that spend most of their days sitting are said to have a higher risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes to name a few.
The link between illnesses and sitting first emerged in the 1950’s when researchers found double decker bus drivers were twice as likely to have heart attacks as their bus conductor colleagues. With all the information out there on how sedentary lifestyles can affect your health, there is no wonder why height-adjustable desks are becoming increasingly more popular in offices.
Height adjustable desks can prevent back problems, increase performance, concentration, and motivation of employees whilst minimising downtime. In this article, we will be exploring all the benefits of height-adjustable desks and why they are essential in office layouts.
Research by British Medical Journal followed trials involving 146 NHS staff. Over half of the staff swapped their traditional office desks for more flexible standing desks. The study showed that those who normally had a sedentary work life and switched to the standing desk reported improved engagement in their work and had fewer musculoskeletal problems.
The study found that office workers are the most sedentary population of workers, spending between 70 to 85% of their time at work seated. This is not healthy for anybody, and good health is crucial in order to deliver good work performance and efficiency. It is important to note, increased efficiency through highly productive work saves time in the long run and height-adjustable desks are said to increase efficiency by at least 10%!
As mentioned, sitting for long periods affects posture and increases the risk of illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. By adding height-adjustable desks to an office space, employees will be able to change their working position, increase mobility, and improve their circulation.
To maintain a healthy spine, it’s important to regularly move about and change positions during the working day. Did you know that 47% of people with height adjustable desks reported a significant reduction in upper back, shoulder, and neck discomfort. 65% of people also said height adjustable workstations positively impacted their health outside of the workplace.
In another study, those that used height-adjustable desks were said to have experienced less stress and fatigue compared to those who worked sitting all day.
This is why height-adjustable desks are a great addition as they can be moved up and down so workers can choose to sit or stand and alternate between the two.
In a working day, there are regularly situations where important decisions need to be made quickly. The mind needs to be alert and focussed in order to achieve this.
A study found that students that had used height-adjustable desks in a classroom showed improvements in focus, executive function, and memory. The study also suggested that standing desks boosted brain activity by increasing blood flow. By adding height-adjustable desks to the office will likely see similar results in workers.
Height-adjustable desks are a great advantage if staff are expected to work in a concentrated fashion for many hours where they will be needing to be focussed and maintain executive function.
If workers are not constantly distracted by fatigue, neck tension and back pain, they will be able to concentrate better and work more efficiently. Both employees and the company benefit from this too, as according to a study by Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, German companies incurred an annual loss of 35 million euros due to absentees and reduced productivity caused by back problems.
Therefore, adding height-adjustable desks to the office can result in reduced absentees and better health leading to improved profitability for the company. It also reduces stress from trying to find cover for all the absentees with bad backs!
A study by behavioural researchers indicated that people communicate and engage significantly better when standing compared to sitting. At standing meetings, the voice is fuller, more dynamic, and more convincing, significantly increasing the meeting performance. The same goes for telephone calls which are also said to improve when standing up.
Increased standing and more movement can also lead to better interaction and engagement, creating a more dynamic and collaborative working environment. This will enhance the value proposition of getting employees back into the office as they increasingly are looking for more flexibility. Companies need to make the office more attractive so that employees will happily come in, one way to do this is through height-adjustable desks.
To summarise, here are the benefits of height adjustable workstations for employees and for the company:
Benefits for employees
Benefits for the company
Are you interested in height-adjustable desks? At Haiken, one of our bestsellers is our clever four-height Wolfe desk as it is robust and offers maximum strength for a minimum weight.
At Haiken, we know how important it is that employees remain comfortable and healthy while at work so they can deliver good performance for the company. To find out more about our height-adjustable desk, feel free to contact us today and we will be happy to help.
As the emphasis on ergonomic office setup continues to grow, so does the popularity of adjustable desks. Among the countless options available these days, electric height-adjustable desks have emerged as the go-to choice for many office-goers. But have you ever wondered: How does an electric height adjustable desk work? Let's delve right into the details!
A sophisticated mechanical structure called an electric desk lift, made possible by electric lifting columns, is at the core of an electric adjustable desk's functionality. These raising structures replace traditional desk legs.
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But unlike ordinary desk legs, these special columns empower users to alter desk height on-demand. The primary operator of this elevation control is the control system. This crucial system fulfills your command to increase or decrease the table height.
Your input gets translated into an electrical signal that activates the motors inside the lifting columns to adjust your desk to the desired height. Hence, at the touch of a button, you can transition your regular desk into a standing desk!
Operating an electric height adjustment desk is incredibly seamless. As previously noted, the control system plays a vital role in desk operations. You will mostly find a control panel (often located on the desk's side) containing buttons for raising or lowering your desk.
By pressing these, you command the control system to trigger the electric lift and adjust the height.
Yes, electric adjustable desks need a power source to operate since their primary mechanism relies heavily on electricity for control and actuation. Typically, they are designed to plug into standard wall outlets.
Nevertheless, some manufacturers may offer battery packs to power the desk. Understandably, these may lower the load capacity and slow the desk's operational speed.
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Whether you choose a manual or an electric adjustable desk, both provide the flexibility to adjust your workspace to your comfort. But the core difference lies in the adjustment method.
Electric standing desks, like those we’ve just explored, use a control panel to drive their motorized lifting columns on user demand. Hence, standing desk adjustments are as effortless as pressing a button.
Conversely, with manual standing desks, you will generally have to engage in a manual operation (such as rotating a hand-crank) to adjust your desk's height. Therefore, considering convenience and ease of usage, electric standing desks have an edge over their manual counterparts.
For more details on these three's differences, head on over to our Electric vs. Manual Crank vs. Converter Comparison.
In conclusion, electric height adjustable desks are innovative ergonomic solutions that cater to your desk's positional needs in real-time. Their smooth operations, driven by electric lifting columns and a control system, accommodate both standing and sitting positions.
Though they need plugging in for power, their effortless adjustment process distinguishes them from manual adjustable desks, making them the preferred choice for many.
For more detailed explanations on topics similar to this, on both electric and manual desks, visit the collection of Standing Desks & Adjustable Sit Stand Desks You'll Love.