Application of ergonomics rules in the office is directly linked to the productivity of individual employees and the entire organization, and therefore has an impact on the company’s financial situation.
If we want to optimally use the capabilities and skills of our employees, we must ensure high quality computer hardware and the best working conditions. Ensuring ergonomic conditions of work requires in turn:
- suitable furniture (chairs, work tables, additional furniture)
- appropriate spatial configuration of equipment at the work place (position of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.)
- proper lighting of the work place (proper intensity of light, elimination of reflections)
- good organization of work.
When writing about ergonomics we must mention that almost everything is ergonomic, but to a varying degrees. The more ergonomic the working environment is, the more we can feel improvement in:
- our comfort and health,
- productivity of work,
- efficiency of workers,
- reduction of absenteeism costs, and therefore of operating costs,
- creative way of thinking of the employees.
A highly ergonomic work-place is also a good tool for motivating employees and for binding them to the company. We should note that a small investment of 20 PLN per month in a better chair for the period of 5 years is half the cost of washing of a company car, but the improvement in comfort at work and reduction of pain is incomparable!
Sometimes it happens that a competitor wants to attract our employee, but the difference in remuneration is small like a few per cent. What matters then are non-financial aspects of change of employer. If he sees that at the new place there are worse conditions e.g. old and damaged desks, too many people working within one area and the room is not well-lit, then he will surely think of staying at his current company.
A well-equipped interior creates an image of a company both in the eyes of customers who visit their business partners and of employees. It is worth having an image of a company that cares about its employees, because it is people who make the company.
If a company does not care about its staff, why should it care about me, its customer?
Negligence regarding an ergonomic work-place beyond the legal responsibility results in an increase of costs due to absenteeism, medical treatment and compensation. If a work-place is not ergonomic, employees feel more tired, which in turn reduces productivity and alertness and increases the number of errors. It may happen that an error in interpretation of data will result in significant economic losses, or even a decrease in safety level of users of the defective product.
Based on: Ergonomic Report prepared by Prof J. Nofer, Labour Medicine Institute. |
