Companies in which employers implement non-financial incentive methods have lower rotation rates among workers. Taking this into consideration it should be noted that working conditions are becoming increasingly important in the selection process for choosing an employer.

Therefore, companies are increasingly focusing on the standard of their offices. This is confirmed by the decrease in the amount of vacant office space, which dropped from 16.2% in 2003 to 5.4% in 2006, with modern office space in high supply – in 2006 alone over 190 000m² of modern office space was commissioned. Change of location, better communication, conveniently situated office, etc. are no longer sufficient factors as better equipment is also crucial.

It is also clear that an increasing number of employees suffer from health problems caused by having to maintain a seated position for extended periods of time. Last year’s Ergotest* brought unexpected results - 91% of employees suffer from back pain, 62% from wrist pain, 41% have problems with their eyes, 20% complain about cramped calves and swollen legs resulting from badly organized workplaces. This creates both an opportunity and a potential risk for employers. The opportunity is in the fact that money invested in a convenient and functional office will be quickly returned; it is also the direction of the kind of changes which employees expect, as the survey results show. On the other hand, those companies not providing proper working conditions, within several years will be forced to do it for two reasons:

- firstly, employees expect better standard of working conditions and when this is not provided, they seek other employment opportunities, due to health problems and insufficient care on the part of the employer.

- secondly, the employer’s failure to conform to the minimum requirements may entail financial consequences relating to compensation and employees’ treatment costs, as well as the necessary conformity to statutory requirements regarding workplace conditions.

The rising awareness among employees as to their rights as well as growing expense for maintaining their health and/or the cost of treatments make such a possibility a real threat. One should remember that the minimum requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations are based on the Labour Code. Additionally, medical check-ups, especially preceding employment, provide testament to the employer’s health at the moment of commencement of work. Considering the growing risk of the occurrence of musculoskeletal ailments, it is therefore possible for the employee to prove that blatant disregard for Health and Safety at Work requirements concerning the workplace was the cause of his/her health deterioration. Thus, the possibility of successful damage claims and the risk of incurring high costs for the company are significant.

            Concern for employee is therefore not only a fashionable concept but also an investment which will pay off for everyone involved, both the company as well as the employee. It is sometimes worth counting the gains and losses, and the calculation is very simple.

The article has been written in cooperation with the creators of the Social Educational Program HEALTHY OFFICE (ZDROWE BIURO), which aims at raising the market awareness of the regulations of law, ergonomics, preventative treatment of ailments and diseases related to office work. Readers interested in this subject will find important and interesting information at: www.zdrowebiuro.pl