Problem/Solution Report on Ergonomic Office Furniture
Abstract
This report aims to address the pressing issue of non-ergonomic office furniture in our workplace. The lack of ergonomic design has been linked to various health issues among employees, affecting productivity and incurring additional costs. After evaluating multiple solutions, the report recommends a phased implementation of ergonomic furniture, supported by evidence from authoritative sources.
The Problem
The modern workplace has evolved significantly over the past few decades, with employees spending increasing amounts of time at their desks due to the nature of their jobs. This shift has brought to light the importance of ergonomics in the office environment. Ergonomics, as defined by the International Ergonomics Association, is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
Our current office furniture and workspace design do not adhere to ergonomic principles. This oversight has led to a range of issuesphysical discomfort and health problems; fatigue among workers; repetitive strain injuries; psychological discomfort; and poor productivity, which, of course, inevitably affects the organizations bottom line.
First off, non-ergonomic furniture can cause discomfort and lead to conditions like back pain, neck strain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Indeed, according to a study by Katz (2006), back pain is the most common work-related disability in people under 45 years of age.
Secondly, there is the problem of fatigue. Improper desk and chair designs can lead to tired workers, as employees might not have the proper support, which causes them to adopt unhealthy postures. This is important because a study by Gerr et al. (2002) found that workers who used non-ergonomic furniture reported higher levels of fatigue than those who used ergonomic furniture.
Thirdly, there is the issue of repetitive strain injuries, which is when pain and other symptoms occur in an area of the body which has done repetitive tasks (Tittiranonda et al., 1999). In an office setting, this often manifests in the wrists, back, neck, and eyes. Likewise, continuous discomfort can lead to frustration, stress, depression, and sadness. In fact, it has been shown that the psychological well-being of employees is directly linked to their physical comfort in the workplace (Hartvigsen et al., 2000).
Finally, and perhaps most importantly for the organization, discomfort and health issues can lead to decreased productivity. Employees might take more frequent breaks, or their concentration might be disrupted due to discomfort. On top of this is the financial burden of medical claims, which, along with absenteeism and potential turnover, will definitely hurt the organizations profits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), one issue known as musculoskeletal disorders, which have been linked to the usage of non-ergonomic furniture, actually account for 33% of all worker injury and illness cases.
Possible Solutions
Complete Overhaul
One of the most direct approaches to address the ergonomic concerns in our workplace is to initiate a complete overhaul. This would entail replacing all current furniture with ergonomically designed alternatives in a short span of time. The primary advantage of this method is the immediacy of the solution; employees would...
…It also provides sufficient time for employees to adjust to their new workspaces.Employee Reassignments
A change like this needs dedicated oversight. A small team of members from different departments should be formed to manage this transition. Their responsibilities would include liaising with vendors, overseeing the delivery and setup of new furniture, and making sure that the transition is as seamless as possible. This team would serve as a point of contact for any concerns or feedback from the rest of the staff and would help with recording feedback for later assessments and changes that might need to be made.
Financial Costs
Based on preliminary research and vendor quotes, a tentative budget has been set at $20,000. This budget would be spread over the six-month implementation period, and it should be enough to cover the costs of the new furniture and any other expenses, including delivery and installation fees.
Future Monitoring
Once the phased implementation is complete, it would be important to monitor the changes and see that they are yielding the desired results. To this end, a quarterly review system will be introduced. These reviews will involve gathering feedback from employees about their new workspaces, taking any concerns, and making any necessary adjustments. This feedback process would help the company to respond to any further employee needs in a timely manner.
Plus, to gauge the long-term impact of these changes on employee health and well-being, an annual survey will be introduced. This survey will assess various factors, such as physical comfort, any recurring health issues, and overall job satisfaction. This survey will help the organization make…
References
Gerr, F., Marcus, M., & Monteilh, C. (2002). Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders amongcomputer users: lesson learned from the role of posture and keyboard use. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 12(1), 25-31.
Hartvigsen, J., Lings, S., Leboeuf-Yde, C., & Bakketeig, L. (2000). Psychosocial factors at workin relation to low back pain and consequences of low back pain; a systematic, critical review of prospective cohort studies. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 57(1), 3-13.
Katz, J. N. (2006). Lumbar disc disorders and low-back pain: socioeconomic factors andconsequences. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 88(suppl_2), 21-24.
Tittiranonda, P., Rempel, D., Armstrong, T., & Burastero, S. (1999). Effect of four computerkeyboards in computer users with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 35(6), 647-661.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2019). Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses RequiringDays Away From Work. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/
Employee Privacy Torts Issues relating to employee privacy have been at the forefront of businesses for many years. This has been fuelled by the dynamic workplace which changes constantly and also by employees and employers being more litigation-conscious. Technology has also spurred on employee privacy issues with e-mail and the internet being related to heightened concerns about vulnerability of employers to litigation. Many employers have thus exacerbated their concerns relating to
Employee Training and Career Development The role of training in an organization's development For organizations to ensure their employees are equipped with the right knowledge, abilities and skills to perform their assigned tasks, training and development assumes a critical role towards the success and growth of the business. When providing appropriate training, organizations ensure that their employees own the right skills for the business and these skills must be continually updated based
It is an observational learning technique. It is used to diversify training and helps in change of attitude. It also helps in interpersonal skills. Outdoor training involves challenges which teach employees to work together as a team. It usually involves some major physical and emotional challenge and employees are observed on how they react to these difficulties. This type of training is beneficial as it shows the importance of working
Employee Relations Financial Crisis Managing Employee Relations in the Event of a Financial Crisis A Look into Management can Effectively Navigate through Adverse Conditions Austerity Protests (Dowling, 2012) Employee relations can often be a difficult aspect of maintaining the overall health of an organization. In general, employee relations often refer to the act of fostering productivity, motivation, and employee morale in an organizations human resources pool. However, there are some circumstances in which it
Employee relations belong to employer-employee relationships that give satisfactory productivity, motivation, and self-confidence. Employee relations are involved with preventing and resolving problems related to individuals that occur or change work situations. Supervisors are given advice on how to correct poor performance and employee misconduct (Gennard, 2005). On the other hand, employees are given information on how to promote a better understanding of the company's goals and policies. For this paper
Employee theft is noted by Mishra and Prassad (2006) to be a major component of private and public retail shrinkage.There is a consensus that theft in the workplace constitutes a serious offense and is a cause of serious problem (Weber, Kurke & Pentico, 2003).Employees have been noted to steal time, money, merchandise as well as other forms of company property like information in exchange for cash and other forms of
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now