Benefits of Office Ergonomics

Many of the benefits of these purchases are often hidden and not all together tangible or quantifiable — something that modern-day businesses require before spending any money.

A study published in Contemporary Ergonomics 2001 investigated a wide range of the costs and benefits associated with these purchases. A small call centre office was the focus of the research where much money had been spent on improving the working environment for the staff. This included changes not only to the physical environment such as desks and lighting, but also to working practices, such as increasing the variety of work that each operator did.

It was clear that the staff generally appreciated the way in which the management had attempted to improve their working environment. It was even suggested that it added to the feeling that there was a “caring” culture within the company. A previous piece of research in the Call Centre industry suggested that this was one of the major factors affecting staff retention in this sort of environment — clearly a desirable outcome as staff retention is one of the major issues currently affecting the Call Centre industry.

Since the start of the use of ergonomic principles within this office, there had also been a drop in the number of staff reporting upper limb aches and pains, and associated with this were numerous avoided costs. These included things like reduced sickness absence, less lost time for doctors’ and physiotherapists’ appointments, improved morale and fewer legal claims to name a few. In all, it was shown that the avoided costs resulting from fewer aches and pains would mean that the money spent on the ergonomic changes would have been paid back in just over a couple of years.

While it is not always easy to quantify the benefits of using ergonomics in this sort of environment, there are none the less some very clear advantages for both the staff working there and the business.

Sue Mackenzie