In the course of my travels and visits to a great many diverse business facilities over the last few years, I have come across very few situations where standing operators have not been provided with some sort of relief from the hard floors of their workplace. Not surprising given that soreness or pain are one of the top three reasons given for lost work days (National Safety Council stats 2014-15). It is widely accepted in industry, thankfully, that the provision of an anti-fatigue mat contributes to the operators’ wellness and productivity.
The subject of ergonomics has also raised awareness in the office environments, where personnel experience long periods of sitting in chairs. With the introduction of fully adjustable chairs, breakout areas and the sit/stand workstation, corporations, large and small, are investing in the wellness of their most valuable asset – their workforce. When you consider the cost to recruit, train and retain these persons, then it makes perfect sense to look after them rather than all the additional costs that are incurred to replace them, if they decided to look for a better employment or environment elsewhere.