A growth market: Sit-stand workstations and standing desks (with related video)

Standing desks and similar products are finding a place in more and more work environments. Over half (53 percent) of the 314 respondents to an American City & County poll say that standing desks boost worker productivity. Ergotron’s Wellness Manager, Betsey Banker (photo to the right), offers her thoughts on the value of standing desks and related products in the workplace. Ergotron is a provider of adjustable technology furniture and mounts and other ergonomic products.  Betsey Banker’s views are below.

GPN: Are more offices/workplaces using standing desks now?

Betsey Banker: Yes, we continue to see an increase in the number of sit-stand workstations being implemented in government and corporate spaces. As people continue to have positive experiences with sit-stand products, demand will continue to rise.
Research shows the ability to move between sitting and standing throughout the day has promising health implications, such as the reduction of lower back pain and an increase in mood and productivity. Ergotron’s JustStand Index shows that while 62 percent of employees are aware of sit-stand desks, only 16 percent have asked their employer for one.

GPN: Will more offices/workplaces start using standing desks in 2017 and 2018?

BB: We know sit-stand workstations are a viable intervention to sedentary time. Researchers have worked hard to identify the risks associated with sedentary behavior, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. The World Health Organization lists physical inactivity as the fourth-leading risk factor for global mortality. We also know that the prevalence is massive.

Research from around the world indicates that people are spending a significant portion of their day in uninterrupted sitting. This is where corporate wellness leaders will have an impact, helping organizations understand the physical and financial benefits of using sit-stand workstations. With understanding comes adoption, as governments and businesses calculate the ROI of sit-stand computing and start to set aside the budget to make the investment.

There are millions of workers still forced to sit at a computer for long hours each day, and many of them want sit-stand. Five years ago, 67 percent would use a sit-stand desk if their organization allowed it. We continue to see this kind of heavy interest, but we also anticipate a shift as more employees proactively request a sit-stand solution from their employer.

GPN: Are standing desks a healthy alternative to government workers and other workers?

BB: Of course! It doesn’t matter what sector of the market you work in. If you have a job that requires you to sit at a computer for long periods at a time, you can benefit from a sit-stand workstation. Excessive sitting throughout the day has been said to be as dangerous as smoking a pack or more of cigarettes each day, and can quickly counteract the benefits of exercise and a healthier diet.

Studies have proven that employee morale, health and productivity all receive a boost when these units are introduced. In addition, issues like chronic back pain—a common problem for modern-day office workers—can be reduced or even eliminated with the introduction of sit-stand workstations.

For more than three decades, Ergotron has offered ergonomic products to computer users. The products bring comfort, wellness and improved productivity into the workplace.. The firm delivers adjustable technology furniture and mounts that promote healthy, productive environments for life and work.

In the video: A side-by-side comparison of the Ergotron Workfit A Workstation vs. the S2S Sit Stand Workstation.

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