5 Ways to Persuade Your Boss to Have an Ergonomics Workstation Assessment
Post By: Solutions Northwest, Inc.
Ergonomics Experts serving Washington, Oregon, and California
You love your job but wish your company would incorporate an ergonomic workstation. Here’s how to convince your boss it’s not a luxury but a matter of health.
Modern working environments don’t always support our bodies or minds. For example, sitting at a desk and typing away five days a week for eight hours straight can be taxing on your body.
Assessing your workstation to make it suitable for a human being is the first step and the next is tailoring it to your own specific body. Not only will employees benefit from an ergonomics assessment, but so will the entire company.
However, some bosses or managers can’t see the whole picture. Some bosses may think uniformity, and streamlined workspaces are more cost-efficient, but they are often incorrect. We’re going to cover a few ideas of how you can persuade your boss to allow an ergonomic workstation assessment.
How to Persuade Your Boss for an Ergonomic Workstation Assessment
Sometimes we must speak up to get what we need at work. Here’s what you can try:
1. Prepare your reasoning with facts.
There are a lot of solid arguments for ergonomic adjustments to your workspace. They are often backed by solid research and biological explanations as to why humans shouldn’t sit for long periods of time, for example.
Research shows that having an ergonomic workstation will improve the quality of work you do, employees will be happier, and it will save the company money in the long run with less injury and better productivity. Explore our Ergonomics Blog for plenty of facts to back up your reasoning.
2. Supply options for ergonomics consultants.
Go online and do your research. Prepare a list of local ergonomics consultants that your boss can choose from. This will make it easier to get the conversation started and show that you’re serious about getting an ergonomics assessment for your workstation as soon as possible.
3. Cite personal health.
If you have a history of back problems, you can use that as a perfectly reasonable argument for having an ergonomic update.
You don’t necessarily need to have medical information to back that claim up, either. A reasonable employer will take you at your word and support your health.
4. Discuss the business benefits.
There’s a growing body of evidence that performing an ergonomics assessment on your workstation will save the company money. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry, “on average an ergonomics assessment will pay for itself in about 8.4 months.”
The reasoning makes sense, an ergonomic workstation leads to less injury, more efficient work, happier employees, and better overall job performance.
5. Talk with your Doctor
The final resort could be obtaining a doctor’s note for legitimate medical concerns.
Having support from a medical professional should be enough to warrant improvements to your workspace.
In conclusion.
An ergonomic workstation is something that many of us need. Ideally, we would all work in spaces that were optimal for our health. A solid understanding of health concerns and different options available to you will be a huge help in your search to find ergonomic improvements that support your lifestyle.
Explore our
site for more help and information on ergonomics. To keep up with the newest trends in office safety and the
ergonomics industry subscribe to our blog.
These 5 ergonomics tips come courtesy of Solutions
Northwest Inc., ergonomics
consultants and work safety experts located in Washington State, San Diego,
California, Oregon, Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland.