In the current era where the world has moved into overdrive and most individuals spend more time at their workplace then in their homes, stress, depression and total burnouts within the global workforce have become common. This scenario has not just affected the morale and wellbeing of employees in general, but they have also have had a drastic impact on productivity apart from increased medical cost of both employers and employees alike.
On the bright side however, many organisations have implemented quite a simple solution that is not just effective, but also affordable – ergonomics! This concept of creating work environments that are designed with not just aesthetics in mind, but also comfort was initiated by large companies such as Google, IBM, and Apple at the turn of the century which established ergonomics as not just a trend, but a requirement within the workplace.
In brief ergonomics is all about the science of comfortable and practical office furniture, equipment and workspace design that is hinged on maximising comfort, safety, and efficiency of employees. Below are some of the key points of how ergonomics shields employees from workplace stress, anxiety, depression and burnouts.
For starters, the fact that ergonomics is all about physical comfort as ergonomic workstations that are coupled with ergonomic chairs and as well as accessories are designed with the intention of enhancing the comfort level of the users. The adequate support provided by ergonomic items minimises strain on muscles and joints which reduce discomfort and fatigue allowing employees to stay focused on their respective tasks.
In essence ergonomically designed workstations keep mental strains at bay and enhance the level of focus which has a positive impact on productivity. The fact that comfort leads to mental stability which is critical towards minimising mental stress and anxiety is among the many other aspects of ergonomics that is crucial towards the wellbeing of employees.
Ergonomic designs do not only revolve around chairs, desk and computer accessories as many believe, proper ergonomic workstations also minimises the potential for clutter, limits the possibility of distractions, and optimises workflow which is important for maintaining a sense of calm and clarity.
Apart from maintaining mental health, ergonomic workstations also prevents work-related injuries in the long run and this includes musculoskeletal disorders, back pain and even repetitive strain injuries.
It is due to this it is crucial that employees and employers alike pay attention to the design of workstation and identify stressors and as well as ergonomic risk factors in the workplace which include among others bad postures, motions that are repetitive, and tasks that require excessive physical force.
These are among the approaches that employers could employ to help keep their employees not just healthy, but also satisfied and engaged. By harnessing the power of ergonomics, employers will also be fostering a culture of wellbeing and support as by introducing ergonomics; employers send a powerful and meaningful message to employees about just how much their health and wellbeing is valued by the organisation.
