The problems for people working from home – Home Worker Ticking Time Bomb

The problems for people working from home – Home Worker Ticking Time Bomb

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March 2020 and Covid-19 Lockdown, Working from Home? People now working from home at their dining table, sofa, or bed and a few from their home office.

People began to work from home in places that were not ideal. Then the ticking time bomb started! Work-related discomfort has become a major problem (Lower and upper back aches, headaches, eye strain, neck aches, shoulders, wrists, etc, are just a selection of the problems). Many people have also experienced long-term musculoskeletal discomfort. This has resulted in a rush for home office equipment and furniture online. Suddenly, every furniture company was a ‘Home Office’ specialist?

So what's changed?

Previously, working in the office, fitted out with properly designed furniture and seating, and suddenly working from home, often sitting on furniture that was not designed for working, there was a much higher risk of work-related discomfort. The change to home working meant that a majority of people were provided with laptops and were expected to set up the rest of their home office themselves without any understanding of the requirements to ensure a healthy working setup. So suddenly, we were at home utilising products designed with style in mind but with little thought concerning the user’s comfort.

Common issues in the home office?

  • Desks

    Many home office desks are higher than standard office desks, and desktops are often shallower, resulting in a lack of suitable working space. Another common issue seen on many home office desks is a large drawer under the desktop, resulting in the user lowering their chair to get their legs under the drawer and then having to lift their shoulders to use their keyboard.

  • Chairs

    People who were working from dining chairs, sofas or beds, unfortunately, found out the hard way that they were not suitable for prolonged work. Then, many of the chairs bought online during lockdown lack the necessary basic functionality to provide the support required.

  • Laptops

    It is one of the most commonly used devices in our home offices. When used on their own without a separate keyboard and mouse or laptop stand, it results in forward tilting of the head and a massive increase in stress/strain on the upper back and neck, potentially causing headaches and longer-term health issues if not addressed. There are several simple ways to address these problems if you are aware of the options!

So, don’t just sit there and suffer!

Get expert advice and resolve your ticking time bomb!

Book a showroom appointment