Your team is what makes your business great. Their hard work, their dedication, their creative problem-solving skills, imagination, and ingenuity. Every day, they remind you how lucky you are to have them on your team. As such, it's only reasonable that you want to look after them as much as you can. Ergonomics in the workplace plays a key role in this.
In this post, we'll briefly summarise the impact of poor ergonomics on employee wellbeing and overall outcomes for your business.
What Are The Effects Of Poor Ergonomics In The Workplace?
As this impact assessment by Public Health England reveals, poorly set up workstations can have a hugely detrimental effect on your workforce.
Most jobs today require employees to be stationary for long periods of time, focusing their attention on one or more screens. In an environment that has not been ergonomically optimised, this can lead to a range of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and related issues, including neck strain, eye strain, back pain, and repetitive strain injuries (RSI). These can often be associated with mental health challenges including stress, fatigue, reduced concentration and anxiety.
These issues are extremely widespread, with HSE data showing that they affect hundreds of thousands of UK workers every year. Indeed, MSDs account for almost half of all sick days across Europe.
How Do Ergonomics Affect Business Outcomes?
None of us has ever done our best work while we were uncomfortable. Discomfort has a detrimental effect on concentration, energy levels, motivation and morale. This can result in more frequent breaks, wandering attention and more sick days.
Poor ergonomics can also erode employee output and morale, resulting in productivity drag and contributing to the phenomenon of "quiet quitting".
Chronic physical discomfort can contribute to low mood, stress, and job dissatisfaction, which impacts businesses as well as individuals. Unless the issue of ergonomics is addressed by management, it can have a detrimental effect on team dynamics, employee engagement and retention.
The monetary and reputational costs of this can quickly add up.
What Are My Legal Obligations When It Comes To Ergonomics In The Workplace?
Under HSE regulations, employers have a legal duty to provide all employees with a safe, comfortable working environment. A space that they can tailor to their unique needs to ensure that they can be at their best. Poor ergonomics in the workplace and failure to carry out regular Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments can not only be suboptimal but also a liability, exposing businesses to a range of compliance issues and liability risks.
Wyvern Business Systems offers a comprehensive approach to workplace ergonomics, carrying out detailed DSE assessments and helping businesses make actionable changes to make their teams more comfortable. We also offer a wide range of tailored ergonomic solutions to reduce employer risk and improve employee wellbeing, such as workstation reviews, adjustments, and specialist equipment recommendations based on your employees' individual needs.
Concerned about workplace comfort and compliance? Book a free professional DSE assessment with Wyvern Business Systems’ ergonomic specialists today!
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