Over Half of UK Office Workers Suffer with Back Pain Due to Poor Workstation Setup, Survey Reveals

Fellowes UK, a leading specialist in manufacturing ergonomic office equipment, established in 1917, has released concerning findings from their online survey of over 1,000 UK office workers, revealing failings in workspace ergonomics and employee wellbeing.

According to the survey, only one in three UK office workers believe their employers are getting the basics right when it comes to desk work and employee health. 

Even more worryingly 27% of survey respondents also reported their workplaces have never undertaken a workstation risk assessment.

Darryl Brunt, who is the Sales & Marketing Director at Fellowes UK & Ireland, expressed serious concerns about these survey results, telling That's Business: "These statistics are really deeply troubling. UK businesses have a legal duty of care towards their employees' wellbeing and must provide workstation risk assessments to ensure their workforces are comfortable and properly supported at their desks."

The survey reveals a disturbing trend in workplace related pain, with 51% of office workers experiencing back pain when sitting at their workstation. To help reduce back pain while sitting at their workstation in the office, 42% of respondents believe additional back support would be beneficial.

The research also uncovered that office workers personal lives are being impacted by their workstation related pain, with over a fifth of respondents experiencing physical pain whilst making everyday movements, requiring regular pain relief medication to cope. 

Findings indicate office workers aged 35 - 44 years old are more likely to take time off than any other age group, due to pain caused by their workstations.

When hybrid office workers work from home, many don’t work at a desk, the survey highlighted. In fact, 21% work from any available surface and 19% work from the sofa. Back pain was reported to be a bigger issue for those working from home, with 59% of respondents sharing that this is their biggest source of discomfort or physical pain, due to their work set-up.

"These are shocking figures that need to be brought to the attention of UK business owners and HR departments," said Darryl Brunt. 

"This issue must be addressed now to help reduce workstation related discomfort and pain. In turn, this will help businesses reduce employee absence rates whilst boosting morale and productivity across their workforces."

Only 22% of survey respondents believe their employers are investing in the right ergonomic equipment to support employee health. When given the right ergonomic equipment, 89% of office workers shared that they noticed a positive impact on their health, motivation and productivity levels.

Darryl Brunt emphasised the importance of providing adequate workstation equipment: "By carrying out thorough workstation risk assessments, UK businesses can gain insights into the exact equipment each employee requires to feel supported at their desk, allowing them to be as comfortable and productive as possible while they work."

Fellowes UK continues to champion workplace wellbeing through its range of ergonomic solutions designed to support healthier working environments.

For more workstation research findings, download the whitepaper here:-https://www.fellowes.com/uk/en/marketing/pg/worklife-coach-ergonomics

Custom-built Furniture in Business Premises is more Functional, Beautiful and Cost-effective, points out Lima Europe

Furniture that has been designed and custom-built for a specific business space, for example for a reception or open plan office is not only more practical and cost-efficient in the long run, but can uniquely transform a room and make a striking impression with clients and staff, says London interior designers, Lima Europe.

Plain, common furniture, such as that purchased from large retailers helps inspire commercial interior designers, Zoltán Madosfalvi and Alíz Ördög from Lima, to push boundaries and create innovative new pieces, bespoke to each client. Customised creations can reflect a brand’s personality in a way that mass market furniture never can and many businesses understand the importance of displaying exclusivity and style through the look and feel of their premises.

In a similar way to the fashion industry, trends often dominate the retail space, meaning it can be difficult for a business to find furniture that meets its conceptual and practical needs as well as it fitting precisely in the available space. The layout of furniture, in an office for example, can alter the entire feeling of a room as well as the team dynamics of those that work within it. What’s more, space can often be utilised better when the furniture is custom-built, especially when it comes to awkwardly shaped areas; this can mean avoiding a move to a bigger premises or leasing a second location, which could save a company thousands.

Co-founder of Lima, Zoltán Madosfalvi, has designed furniture for a number of commercial and private clients and oversees the manufacturing process, which is undertaken at Lima’s facility in Budapest. He said: “Businesses who invest in customised furniture, from a branded hotel bar to a sofa in a surgery reception or office cupboards, want to set themselves apart from competitors and offer their customers or clients something extra beautiful and special when they walk into the premises. Staff also benefit from a carefully planned environment, in a subtle psychological manner and in very practical ways on a day to day basis.

“When the fixtures, fittings and furnishings work with the dimensions and needs of a room, saving space becomes almost effortless; designing a space and its furniture around current functional needs as well as future requirements is a business investment that can help save moving site in the long run.”

For more information about Lima Europe, please visit www.limaeurope.co.uk or for an initial discussion about the interior design needs of your home or business, telephone Lima’s UK interior designers on 0207 884 0504.