Can Your Office Be Good For Your Health

CAN YOUR OFFICE BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH 1 in 4 of us will suffer from work-related stress over the course of our lifetime, but the office needn't be a place of suffering. This infographic will show you how you can turn any office into a place that actually improves your health and will boost your mood in all areas of life. Business t a THE COST OF POOR HEALTH 400,000 people in the UK believe they have been made ill by the stress of work. The total cost to employers due to mental health problems among their staff is nearly £26 BILLIONA YEAR 13.7 MILLION workdays are lost each year as a result of this. That's £1035 for every member of the workforce. Stress is a leading cause of migraines, of which there are It is estimated this costs the economy 6 MILLION £750 sufferers in the UK. MILLION A YEAR THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A HEALTHY OFFICE AT THE DESK POSTURE Leaning back slightly at about a 135° angle But it is just as important to change posture regularly. PNEUMATIC CHAIR puts less stress on your spine than sitting upright or leaning forwards This allows you to adjust to find the most comfortable position MONITOR PLACEMENT Ideally, this should be 20 – 30 incheso- away from your eyes. Make sure to rest your eyes every 20 minutes Over 50% of people suffer some form of eye discomfort as a result of computer work. To reach the keyboard, your forearms should bend no more than MOUSE AND KEYBOARD PLACEMENT 20° Keep the mouse nearby and use a wrist rest. above horizontal. STRETCHING Stand-up and stretch every 30 minutes. Your spinal discs face 3x less pressure when standing. Some offices are even beginning to offer standing workstations which can improve focus and increase stamina. ENVIRONMENT Natural lighting is best for maintaining focus Studies have shown that office workers can concentrate up to 4x longer than under artificial light. Plants Plants have been proven to lower blood pressure, increase employee productivity, and improve reaction times by 12% Furthermore, dust levels in the workplace can be reduced by up to 20% when foliage plants are introduced. Pleasant scents Scenting an office with lavender oils has been found to reduce computer errors by 25% because of its relaxing effect. Colour To create a more relaxed office-space, blue is best, as it has been proven to lower blood pressure and ease mental tension. If you are looking to beat fatigue, however, red or orange are more suitable because of their energising effects. Music Music can provide mental stimulation for those carrying out monotonous tasks, and so reduces boredom and fatigue. option OPEN PLAN VS. CLOSED PLAN OPEN PLAN PRO CON Increases motivation Lack of privacy Research shows there is less chance for distrust and jealousy amongst employees which can lead to anxiety. For many people privacy is a top priority, and a lack of it can be particularly damaging to talented but introverted workers. CLOSED PLAN Privacy and personalisation Isolation Some people are much happier in a working space which is distinctly theirs. Some psychologists believe a cubicle culture has turned many working professionals into introverts. HOW EMPLOYERS CAN HELP Discount gym memberships Many employers are starting to offer such schemes, with larger companies even having their own facilities, as they realise the benefit they can bring to employee productivity. Promote healthy eating Google considered behavioural economics when designing its cafeteria so that employees would find it easier to make healthy choices, but even small steps such as offering fruit in vending machines can be helpful. Counselling services If an employee is finding life difficult, whether for personal or work-related reasons, then having easy access to counselling services can be extremely reassuring and often nip the problem in the bud. Promotion culture People working in departments with higher promotion rates have a 20% reduced risk of developing heart disease. Flexible hours Research shows that having independence and choice over when we work beats stress better than simply working less. SOURCES 6 Tips to Protect Your Health in a Virtual Environment - www.virtual-office-essentials.com How to Protect Your Health in the Computer Era - www.drbenkim.com Ten Stress Busters - www.nhs.uk 10 ways to beat stress at work - www.menshealth.co.uk Cubicles Vs. Open Space Office Layout - www.buzzle.com Mental health and well-being at the workplace- protection and inclusion in challenging times - www.euro.who.int Promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions: guidance for employers - www.nice.org.uk Stressed at work? Put potted plants on your desk - www.dailymail.co.uk Setting Up Your Office for Health - www.globalhealingcenter.com Work-related stress soared in the recession as number of people going off sick rose by a quarter - www.dailymail.co.uk Work-related stress blamed for sharp increase in migraine sufferers - www.dailyrecord.co.uk The 44 Healthiest Companies to Work For - www.greatist.com PRODUCED BY SCIPHR ALL AB OUT PEOPLE www.ciphr.com 3) 4, 5.