Ergonomics Tips: On Working in Bed

An estimated 59% of workers say they would prefer to work from home than at the office. Given the current circumstances in the world, it’s highly likely that the trend will continue to grow in popularity.

Of course, given how many employees want to work from home, this presents a few questions that need answers. For example, while comfortable, is working in bed a good idea for remote workers?

According to the ergonomics experts, there are a few pros and cons. If you’re interested in whether or not it’s a good idea to work from your bed, learn all the facts below from the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc.

Working in Bed as a Remote Worker

Grabbing your laptop, a few comfortable pillows, and throwing on your pajamas, sounds more like getting ready to watch a movie than it does preparing for work. Working in bed sounds like a dream, no pun intended. However, things like posture and fatigue while working are factors you should keep in mind before doing so.

The truth is, remote workers would have to be very careful about how they would go about working from bed. For example, just finding the right position in bed will be a task. There are also injury risks to consider, but could the right pillows, sheets, and mattress help make a difference?

Read on to learn what our home office and ergonomics experts have to say about it.

Why You Shouldn’t Work in Bed

Starting with the cons, according to the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc., working in bed can present some problems. First, laying down naturally releases certain chemicals that can cause drowsiness. So, for that obvious reason alone – it might be harder for remote workers to concentrate while working in a bed that they normally sleep in.

There are a few countermeasures for this problem, though. You can, for example, buy a specialized pillow for sitting up. A pillow designed to help you sit up while working in bed would help position your head properly, which reduces fatigue.

The other issue involves body posture, of course. A horizontal position while working, over an extended period of time, will likely result in back and neck pain. Here, though, the same pillow can help prevent symptoms. However, finding the right type of pillow for this could be difficult and ultimately not as helpful as sitting in an ergonomically designed home office chair with an ergonomic desk.

If the reason a remote worker is considering working in bed is due to lack of comfort at their desk, invest in an Ergonomics Assessment. Ergonomics experts perform this assessment to ensure a remote worker’s workspace is comfortable. Every business owner or human resources professional should ensure their remote workforce is working in comfort.

In fact, many companies now offer Virtual Ergonomics Office Assessments for Remote Workers, which can be done with a smart phone and may be a more affordable option.

Related Article: “3 Tips to Keep Remote Employees Happy”

When Does Working in Bed Makes Sense?

There’s still some hope for people that want (or need to, due to an injury) to try working in bed, though! That is if you have the proper equipment.

Besides a special pillow for sitting up, remote workers might consider using a desk designed for working in bed, which can be found at many online retailers like Amazon.

However, using a bed desk means workers won’t be entirely horizontal, which is an injury risk. A bed desk does put one in a sitting position, while simultaneously allowing easy access to a keyboard and mouse. It also promotes a safer head and neck posture, making it easier to keep eyes on the screen for longer periods of time.

There’s another benefit that’s often overlooked, though. Working in bed may improve mental health. Specifically, it may greatly reduce anxiety and improve creativity!

Due to the risks and benefits, perhaps, remote workers may consider working in bed only occasionally for an hour or so. You can use the time to relax while catching up on e-mails or working on other simple tasks.
That said, ergonomics experts always recommend that employees move around and take many breaks no matter if they’re sitting, standing, or lying in bed.

Related Article: “Home Office: 3 Tips to Prevent Muscle Cramps and Aches”

Consider These Tips When Trying to Work in Bed and Remain Proactive in Home Office Safety for Remote Workers!

It’s important for remote workers to consider their physical and mental health before working in bed. Body posture is of utmost importance, and workers should have the right ergonomic equipment before giving it a try. This includes a desk designed for working in bed and a pillow for sitting up in bed.

However, it should only be done occasionally and not routinely due to the fact the risks of working in an awkward, horizontal position and in a space that isn’t truly designed for working. On the other hand, it offers a few benefits that may make it fun to try occasionally on an easy day just for a little while.

Contact our ergonomics experts if you’re considering working in bed and looking for new ways to work in comfort. The experts at Solutions Northwest Inc., help you get the right ergonomic equipment to ensure proper posture!

Effectively utilizing remote employees is key to your success! If you want to help your remote employees set up an ergonomic home workspace, contact the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for more information. You may also want to consider an affordable virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

It may sound relaxing to sit at home and work remotely. However, sitting puts strain on the body of remote workers more than you may realize. And that issue is only worsened by bad office furniture.

Designing a home office with ergonomic furniture is often praised for correcting some of the pains and posture issues that are common at desks jobs. But if you or your employees are working remotely without properly assessing the ergonomics, chances are you are sitting on home decor which can actually be quite bad for one’s back.

This is why it’s good to invest in some ergonomic home furniture for yourself or your employees.

Are you interested in learning more about how to work from home comfortably? Here are the top five benefits of ergonomic furniture from the ergonomics consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc.

1. Ergonomic Furniture Reduces Pain

If you buy an ergonomic office chair for yourself or your staff, you’ll be doing their back and neck a big favor. Ergonomic chairs have a backrest that supports the natural curve of your spine, and some even have a headrest to provide support for the head and neck. Ensure you get an ergonomic chair that has the latter, as not all of them do

2. Ergonomic Furniture Can Help Improve Blood Flow

When sitting improperly in a home office chair, you may be restricting the blood flow in your legs. Having your seat at a 90-degree angle ensures proper blood circulation to keep your legs from going numb.

3. Ergonomic Furniture Helps Reduce Risk of Musculoskeletal Disease

The aforementioned support for your spine and back is actually crucial to your skeletal health. Most chairs and sofas don’t support the system property which adds pressure to the spine and pelvis. Ergonomic chairs relieve that pressure which will be wonderful at the moment while also protecting you from the long-term effects of strain.

4. Ergonomic Costs Are an Affordable Investment

Buying an ergonomic desk or chair will not cost you much more than a regular chair or desk in most cases.

Furthermore, investing in proper ergonomics for a home office or in-person office is considered an investment in worker’s health and safety. When workers feel healthy and safe, they will be more productive as we will explore below.

5. Ergonomics Help Boost Productivity at Work

“Businesses report an average increase of 25% in productivity and a 67% reduction in errors after an ergonomic assessment” according to WSDLI.

Ergonomics assessments are affordable investments and will allow employees to work faster with less effort. Using a professional, ergonomics consultant that is trained in proper workplace ergonomics will make your job easier and allow for proper posture, fewer motions, less difficult reaches, and less exertion for workers. This means efficient employees and a higher quality product.

Invest in Home Office Design

Ergonomic office furniture will be of major benefit to you or your staff when working from home. When working in a home office that is designed with ergonomics in mind, one’s back and neck will be far less strained, and productivity at work will increase.

At Solutions Northwest Inc., we now offer virtual ergonomics assessments to those seeking the pain and strain relief that comes with ergonomic furniture. If you need help setting up an ergonomic home workspace, contact the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for more information.

Looking for More Tips on How to Create an Ergonomic Workspace? Contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

The world of work has changed. A few years ago, remote working was relatively uncommon, but it’s now a central feature at many companies. At the end of 2020, almost 3/4 of the US workforce was were remote employees, and over half of them wanted the arrangement to continue.

But how do you keep your company functional and your remote workers happy? This article gives some tips for looking after your remote workforce.

1. Embrace Workplace Flexibility

One of the things that employees most like about working from home is enhanced flexibility. For example, remote workers might want to take a walk in the afternoon or spend more time with their children.

If you try to force remote workers into a strict 9-5 routine, it’s unlikely they’ll be happy with the situation. You should be open to more flexible working hours as long as your remote workers are still productive.

2. Invest in Your Remote Team’s Home Office Design

Your remote workers need to have the right kind of equipment in their home office. Not having what they need to do the job can negatively affect remote workers’ comfort and, by extension, their ability to deliver results.

Beyond job-specific tools, remote workers need to have access to an efficient workstation that can help keep them focused on the job without discomfort.

The best way to invest in your remote worker’s home office is to hire an ergonomics consultant to perform an ergonomics assessment. An ergonomics assessment will make it simple to design a home office that is efficient and safe for employees. In fact, it may be even more vital for remote workers to have an ergonomically designed home office because they are more likely to make mistakes like working from their bed or a couch, which could lead to injury and inefficiency.

Additionally, consider a Virtual Ergonomics Assessment, which can be done remotely and does not require anyone to enter the employee’s home.  Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for more information on this.

3. Adapt Your Communications Strategy

You can also keep your remote workers happy by adapting an effective communication strategy. Everyone likes to feel like they’re in the loop, but communicating with your remote workers requires a different strategy than keeping those in the office up to date.

You might consider setting up a slack channel for your remote employees to use. You might also make yourself available through video platforms such as Zoom.

When remote workers feel like it’s easy to reach out to management, they’ll feel a lot happier and more secure.

If you have a hybrid work environment, integrating your remote and office teams is a great way to ensure both of your teams feel like they’re included.

You should encourage your in-office workers to also take part in the company Slack channel. You could also encourage remote workers to occasionally come into the office to meet the team.

Effectively Utilizing Remote Employees Is Key to Your Success

If you want your company to succeed in this new era of work, you need to know how to manage your remote employees and keep them happy at work. The companies that adopt the most effectively to these changes will be the ones who turn the greatest profit.

If you want to help your remote employees set up an ergonomic home workspace, contact the ergonomics experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. for more information. You may also want to consider an affordable virtual ergonomics assessment, which can be done remotely (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

Looking for More Tips on How to Create an Ergonomic Workspace? Contact us at SolutionsNW.com, we will be happy to help you!

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Working in a traditional office means that employers can dole out certain perks to their workers. Remote work perks, however, aren’t as simple. In a world where more and more workplaces are going remote, what are you supposed to offer your remote workers to show them you value their work? 

Remote work benefits already include an ability to avoid commute times, take care of household responsibilities while on the job, and create a personalized office environment, but how can you help a remote worker do their job?

We’re here to offer some ideas. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Help Your Remote Workers Design Their Home Office

Remote employees are, of course, responsible for designing their workspaces. This is one of the downsides of working from home. The only things that employers technically need to provide for remote employees are the things that they need to do the job. 

However, if you are interested in getting the most out of your employees, you should consider investing in their remote office space.

Invest in some comfortable, ergonomic office furniture for your employees. This will enhance worker productivity and help them avoid workplace injuries (that’s right, even office workers can get injured on the job).

Do your research and find appropriate ergonomic desks, chairs, and equipment or tools that your remote worker’s will need. To make the most of your investment, hire an ergonomics consultant to perform an ergonomics assessment for remote workers.

Ergonomics assessments for remote workers are great because they can be done remotely through phone, email, or webcam. If you’re interested, contact Solutions Northwest Inc. for a Virtual Ergonomics Assessment, and get some help designing the perfect workspace for your remote workers!

2. Consider Health and Fitness Benefits

While you’re focusing on your employees’ health and comfort, consider offering health benefits to remote workers aside from the obvious health insurance options. 

Many employers who have in-person workplaces do things like providing group fitness classes, putting healthy snacks in the breakroom, and more. When you’re working remotely, however, you may not know what to do.

Consider providing remote workers with a stipend for health and fitness-related things like gym memberships or healthy food subscription boxes. This is a great way to keep your employees feeling healthy and strong and to show your appreciation.

3. Show Remote Workers Tokens of Appreciation

Speaking of appreciation, you can also offer your employees other helpful tokens that show that you value them. 

After performing an ergonomics assessment and setting up your remote workers with an ergonomic workstation – consider offering things such as padded mousepads or wrist rests for their ergonomic keyboards. You can send them helpful office supplies or even branded merchandise.

This is a small perk, but it’s one that many employees will appreciate.

4. Flexible Schedules

When someone works from home, it’s helpful to allow them to have a flexible schedule if that’s an option for your business. Your goal as an employer is to make sure that the work is getting done. Let employees work on their own schedules as long as they’re meeting deadlines. 

Employees with flexible schedules are more helpful and productive than employees without.

Happy Remote Workers Are Productive Remote Workers

Providing remote work perks for your employees will enhance their productivity, make them feel valued, and keep them healthy and happy. While remote work perks are different from in-person perks, it’s easy to make adjustments for a remote lifestyle.

For more information on creating an ideal workspace for remote employees or to learn how and where you can make improvements, check out our affordable virtual ergonomics assessment for remote workers.

The ergonomics consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. are now offering affordable Virtual Ergonomics Assessments specifically for remote workers (all you need is access to e-mail or a smart phone).

At SolutionsNW.com we value the importance of a positive workplace culture. Part of a positive workplace is a safe workplace, Contact Us to schedule an ergonomics consultation or ergonomics assessment for your office today.

Subscribe to our ergonomics blog for more ergonomics tips from Solutions Northwest Inc., ergonomics evaluations available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, OR, Portland, OR, Salem, OR.

Virtual Ergonomics Assessment available nationwide!

Contact the Ergonomics Experts at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: