by Brianna Crandall — July 8, 2015—ESI Ergonomic Solutions recently unveiled its “Workspaceology” education program and service dedicated to enhancing awareness around the art and science of improving employee well-being, performance and productivity by enhancing the workplace environment and comfort. The launch was announced at NeoCon, the largest commercial interiors show in North America, held in Chicago in June.
According to ESI, more and more organizations are increasing emphasis on employee well-being and enhancing workspace ecosystems to attract and retain talent and to accommodate an increasingly diverse workforce. A recent study by Virgin Pulse revealed that:
- 86% of organizations believe that well-being influences engagement most or all of the time
- 83% of executives said that improving employee well-being is a top priority in 2015
“Our Workspaceology campaign was designed to increase awareness of employee well-being, and offers organizations tangible insights and work tools that can help improve employee well-being,” said Carol Keogh, CEO of ESI. “Every individual in your office can maximize their performance by being able to make a few small changes to their workspace. Everyone’s needs are different and one size does not fit all when it comes to your employees’ workspaces. One person may have chronic back pain while the next may be easily affected by noise. Learning the needs of the individuals and giving them the power to control simple elements within their workspace will help strengthen productivity and staying power.”
The concept of Workspaceology includes the nature of the work setting and size of individual workspace, time spent sitting vs. standing, time spent connected to technology, overall quality of space, aesthetics, and the ability to control distractions and noise levels, explains ESI.
According to Keogh, building knowledge and taking action to improve form and function within the workplace can have a significant positive impact on several factors including health, well-being and productivity.
During NeoCon, ESI also launched three new products that offer optimal performance benefits: the CORE and Q-Crank Height Adjustable Tables, and ErgoRise Series Sit-to-Stand Workstations, comprised of the Lift and Climb (see FMLink article). Each new product gives users the flexibility of working from a sitting or standing position.
Keogh agreed with Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent remark: “Sitting is the new cancer,” saying, “Humans weren’t designed to sit for long periods of time. Studies confirm that over-sitting contributes to obesity, poor circulation and digestion and overall physical discomfort. If you’re truly interested in making a difference in your employees’ wellness, sit-to-stand workstations are an easy place to start.”
Interested parties may download a brief ESI Ergonomic Solutions Survey to assess how their current workspace impacts their productivity and personal wellness from the Workspaceology Web site. The site also includes related articles and research.
