The Advantages Of Sit-Stand Workstations For Office Ergonomics

“Sitting is the New Smoking,” “Too Much Sitting is Bad for Your Health,” “The Dangers of Sitting at Work”; these headlines are in the media everywhere we turn and make you question proper office ergonomics. While these headlines are sensationalist, there is also a certain truth to them as maintaining any posture for 8 hours a day without breaks can lead to discomfort and injury. In response to this, adjustable sit-stand workstations were created, and since then have been at the top of everyone’s ergonomic wish list.

To Sit Or To Stand – What Is The Best Choice For Office Ergonomics?

There are several products on the market advertising their ability to transform a conventional desk into a workstation that offers both sitting and standing options, with the most common being desktop units and height-adjustable desks. While these types of workstations may seem like they offer the best of both worlds, there are many factors to take into consideration. Whether an employee is requesting this option (and/or they present with a doctor’s note for a standing workstation), or a company is looking to make sit-stand stations the standard for personal or shared workstation set-up, it is important to carefully examine whether this type of product will be a good fit for office ergonomics.

The Pros And Cons Of Desktop Units & Office Ergonomics

Desktop units sit on or mount to the desktop and are seemingly a quick and easy solution to add a standing work option without changing the entire workstation.  Before you jump in, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this option in terms of office ergonomics.

The most common issue with some of these units is that the keyboard platform does not go below desk height. For many individuals, the desktop is too high for keying and mousing, generally resulting in increased awkward wrist, back, and shoulder postures when seated. 

Ergonomic guidelines for dual monitors also suggest that the primary screen should be directly in front of the user, with the secondary screen to either side of it. With many desktop mounts, however, neither screen is centered, resulting in static twisting of the neck, making these sit stand units less ideal for dual-monitor setups when it comes to office ergonomics.

Why Choose Height-Adjustable Desks?

Height adjustable desks are fully adjustable but it’s important to check to ensure the workstation height range is optimal for proper office ergonomics. Ideally, the desk should allow the user to align the desktop with their seated and standing elbow heights.  The most common concern is the desk does not go low enough to accommodate small females, a desk height that goes to 27” (or less!) is ideal as that means nearly all users can work with their feet on the floor while typing and mousing at elbow height.

Also, consider ease of adjustability to maximize usage.  Avoid manual cranks, selecting desks with electronic paddles/buttons.  If possible, desks with a programmable memory (like your car) are ideal.  Button A can be set to sitting height and B to standing height allowing for easy and quick adjustment between the two working positions, enhancing ergonomics.

Employee Training Is Key To Proper Office Ergonomics

Now, you have determined which sit-stand workstation option works best for your organization and have implemented them in your workplace, but that’s not the last step! You need to provide employees with adequate office ergonomics training on proper use of the sit-stand workstation to see the benefits, as research has shown that without training, employees will simply not use it, or not use it effectively (Hedge and Ray, 2004). This training should include information about how, why, and when to use the sit-stand workstation, and is critical for effective adoption in the workplace for improved office ergonomics.

Employees may also ask you about how much time they should be spending either sitting or standing, and how often they should be switching positions throughout the workday. Currently, there is no clear recommendation for this but a ratio of 1:1 is believed to be the ideal as it maximizes postural variety (i.e., 4-hours sitting and 4-hours standing in an 8-hour workday).  Employees should rotate often, and not spend longer than 30-minutes in one position. 

If you require further information or assistance with implementation or training on sit-stand workstations, feel free to contact the pros at PROergonomics for expert advice on adjustments that can be made in regards to office ergonomics.

References: Hedge, A., Ray, E.J. (2004). Effects of an electronic height-adjustable worksurface on computer worker musculoskeletal discomfort and productivity. Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet, 48(8): 1091-1095. doi: 10.1177/154193120404800803.