Impact Office Blog

It's a new year and might we suggest a resolution? Stay healthy at work. 

When we say healthy, we mean more than just hearty salad lunches. Eating healthy during the work week is always a good thing, but it's only a small part of your overall work health. Most likely, the majority of time during your work week is spent, not eating, but sitting at your desk. For many of us, work consists of staring at the computer screen, slouched in our chairs and with very little activity. It's this sedentary lifestyle that can cause you more health problems than you may realize.

Luckily there are solutions. From chairs and desks to smaller accessories, we've got ergonomic solutions that will help you stay healthy and minimize your risk to repetitive strain injuries. We know that a comfortable work environment is a more productive work environment. Happier and healthier employees is not only a more productive way to operate your business, but also translates to cost savings. Pretty good right?

Here are our suggestions to achieving this happy, productive and healthy workplace:

Try our Electric Sit Stand Table or Work Station. Whatever your needs are, this desk will help you continue to work while give your back relief from sitting down for too long. 

Of course, you and your team will want to sit down some of the time as well. Outfit your office with ergonomic chairs or Sit Stand chairs. We have something that will suit every taste.

Supplement your ergonomic work station with the proper keyboard trays, monitor arms for ease of screen viewing, and foot rests.

Check out this video below that shows all about the healthiest way to work and utilize your ergonomic furniture. After all, you may have all the right equipment, but without a little extra guidance, you may be missing out on the key benefits of your ergonomic furniture!

Have a healthy 2016!

Give your staff the gift of office health this holiday season!

Show your appreciation for your employees this holiday season with the gift of an office furniture overhaul. Replace old, neglected office furniture that is most likely detracting from staff focus and productivity, and is definitely not good for anyone's posture. Not sure where to start? We've got you covered. Below is our holiday gift guide, suitable for any office space that is in need of some health-inspired holiday love.

From head to toe, give your employees' workstations an ergonomic makeover!

• Head: Set monitors to the ideal height for each employee with an adjustable monitor arm, such as the HDL Single Monitor Arm, to help prevent everything from neck strain to headaches.
• Upper Body: Adding a keyboard tray to a workstation prevents office workers from hunching over their keyboard and allows them to reap the full benefits offered by ergonomic chairs.
• Back: An ergonomic office chair, such as the ObusForme Executive, offers lumbar support and contour seating that will align the user's back into a healthy posture and relieve any back strain.
• Lower Body: Avoid the health issues that are associated with sitting for excessive periods of time by replacing your workstations with Electric Sit Stand Tables, allowing easy transitions from working at a traditional sitting desk to a standing desk with just the push of a button. These convenient adjustable tables are great for the health of not only the user's lower body, but also their heart health and more.
• Toe: Take advantage of the multitude of health benefits offered by a foot machine, which encourages gentle movement of the feet while working, and can prevent health issues such as varicose veins.

For more health conscious office solutions, take a look at the rest of our ergonomic products. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with our Sales Team should you have any questions.

Have a safe and happy holidays!

(Image via Pixabay)

Five problems that may be contributing to a lower output of office productivity and the solutions that will help you solve them.

In the majority of offices across the world there are often many distractions that prevent employees from producing work at an optimal level. These distractions can range from mild problems to larger issues; everything from poor lighting at a person's desk, to severe bodily discomfort that an employee may be experiencing due to their workstation, can prevent a person from being their most productive self.

Below, you will find some of the most common problems office workers experience that often contribute to a lack of productivity, along with the simple solutions that can help you fix them. By implementing the below solutions, with any luck, your office should be producing its best work in no time!

PROBLEM #1:

Clutter and a lack of space can be a major distraction and contribute to a slower output of work.

SOLUTION #1:

Try clearing and organizing your desk first. If you find that there is still not enough space to lay out your daily work, consider upgrading your office's desks and cubicles to workstations and/or systems that have been designed for optimal workflow and ease of use.

PROBLEM #2:

Tired eyes caused by bad lighting.

SOLUTION #2:

If you have the ability to move your desk in your office, position your table by the window to take advantage of the natural light. If moving towards a window is not an option, or you find that you require more light, a correctly positioned desk lamp with a bright bulb is sure to help shine a light on this issue. (Pun intended!)

PROBLEM #3:

Have you noticed that you or your employees have issues sitting still throughout the work day? Many of us that work in an office environment feel the need to get up from our desks to escape the monotony of being seated for eight or more hours every day. What's more, office workers are now being encouraged to take breaks from sitting and stretch throughout the day for health reasons.

SOLUTION #3:

Height adjustable desks allow office workers the freedom to continue to work while standing, while also enabling the user to sit back down again, should they get tired of being on their feet.

PROBLEM #4:

Bodily aches and pains that result from poorly set up workstations, including neck, back and wrist pain.

SOLUTION #4:

Proper ergonomic solutions that address poor seating and workstation set ups. Solutions can range from ergonomic chairs, to keyboard trays and foot rests, to monitor arms that can be positioned to hold a monitor at the ideal height, distance and slant for each person.

PROBLEM #5:

Office paper work inefficiencies that lead to the same work being done more than once.

SOLUTION #5:

A proper filing system can prevent oversights in communication and multiple employees from completing the same work.

For general office solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us and our experienced sales team would be happy to assist you in finding the best office furniture for your needs.

(Image via Pixabay)

Make 2015 your healthiest yet by making some small and easy changes to your work environment!

It’s the start of a new year and many people have made their resolutions and are trying to stick to them! One of the biggest resolutions is for people to live a healthier life. Impact Office has a variety of products that can help you get healthier, happier, and even lose some weight while you work! These products can help create a healthier office environment for employees reducing body aches and pains and increasing energy and focus.

Sit Stand Desks can be life changing, being able to change positions throughout your day and take weight of your lower body is great for your overall health and wellness. It helps increase your blood flow and increases focus and energy while ridding your body of those aches and pains that come from sitting all day.

Using an evolution ball chair for a small amount of time during your day allows your back the flex and move and strengthens your core to prevent strain and lower back injuries.

Any ergonomic accessories such as monitor arms, keyboard trays, foot machines, or a proper ergonomic chair can make the world of difference on your body at work! Try any of these products out and make 2015 you healthiest yet!

These items might a bit too big for your stocking but our Christmas wish list is full of amazing products that can help improve productivity, posture, and even help you loose weight! Below are six products we hope to find underneath the tree, or just in our office!

1. Electric Sit Stand Desk

This is our number one wish list item this year! Sit stand desks are a revolution allowing you to go from sitting to standing so easily throughout your day! They also have tons of health benefits and can help promote weight loss!

 2. Monitor Arm

These monitor arms make adjusting your screen very simple, they save desk space for all our stuff and they help keep us ergonomically aligned!

3. Keyboard Tray

We want a keyboard tray for those stiff shoulders and necks you get from hunching while typing the day away on a keyboard that's on your desk!

4. Global G20 Chair

This amazing modern ergonomic chair is as comfortable as it is beautiful in this white colour, we could look at it all day!

5. Liberty Office Chair

This great looking chair is for those people sitting for long periods of time, ergonomic and oh so comfortable we think Santa's elves would have no problem working those long hours in this chair!

6. Flock Lounge Seating

The holidays are all about relaxing and that is exactly what Flock lounge seating is all about! Comfortable, fun, and easy to move around makes this on of our top picks!

5 Common Ergonomic Mistakes 

October is National Ergonomic Month! So we are going through the cardinal sins that many people make in regards to ergonomics, or a lack there of. Here are five common mistakes people make in the workplace that affect their health and quality of life and the various ways to fix them.

1. Not Having a Proper Chair

It doesn`t matter whether your chair is truly ergonomic, although that does help, having a proper chair means having a chair that is suited to your daily tasks and body type. You should be able to make adjustments to you chair to increase comfortability and make sure you are supported in key areas such as your back, your legs, and your neck. You should have lumbar support for your lower back and the ability to position your chair so your feet are firmly planted on the ground. There are numerous ergonomic features on many chairs, make sure you have the one that fits you.

2. You Look Down On Your Monitor Screen

You might think that where your monitor is placed doesn’t affect your body, but it truly does. Looking down at your screen can scrunch your shoulders and cause pain in your neck. Your monitor should always be an arm’s length away and the top of the screen should be at your eye level when you are sitting. This will allow you to scan the screen without making head movements causing discomfort. Don’t put the screen too high because you can crane or pinch your neck. The best way to raise your monitor screen is to get a monitor arm. They are not extremely costly and can make a huge difference in your work day.

 3.Your keyboard is on your desk.

Having your keyboard on top of your desk can make it so you shrug your shoulders and bend your wrists when typing. This can cause discomfort and carpel tunnel syndrome in the future. Make sure you have palm support near your keyboard to rest your hands without bending your wrists. The best solution is getting an ergonomic keyboard tray installed under your desk within your natural reach zone. This will allow your shoulders to drop and your wrist to remain straight.

4. You Have Improper Lighting:

Appropriate lighting at work can reduce eye fatigue and headaches, the ability to see well at work is crucial make sure you have the right lighting. Ask yourself these questions when in your workplace. Is there enough light for the task at hand? Is there glare from your computer screen from light? Are shadows eliminated? Do the lights provide stead illumination? (Make sure they don’t flicker) DO you complain of headaches or eye strain? Depending on your answers to these questions it may be time to re-evaluate the lighting in your office.

5. You Sit for a Large Portion of your Day

We understand that desk jobs require long periods of sitting and concentrating. However this doesn’t mean you should be sitting all day, and if you are it is a great dis-service to your health. Studies say you should be getting up each hour for 5-15 minutes to stretch out your legs and get the blood flowing. Set reminders and make sure you are getting up throughout your day, even a small walk around the office or a chat to a co-worker will help prevent aches and pains. And for an even better solution try a sit-stand desk where you can go from sitting to standing quickly and continue your work!

Improve Employee's Productivity With a Few Simple Ideas & Products

In today’s work place there can be so many distractions, it can be hard for employees to focus and be as productive as possible. That’s why it is important for employers to create a space that allows employees to focus on their work and not on other issues.

Getting the right products that will aid their functions is key, here are a few tips that can improve your employees functionality and productivity at work.

Proper Filing:is key to many workers. Being able to find the documents they need in a timely and organized manner can make a huge difference. Wasting time looking for files can be frustrating and discouraging, get the right amount of filing storage needed and create a system that makes finding documents straight forward.

Sit Stand Desks: many employees spend a lot of their time shifting to comfortable positions while sitting down, or walking around and stretching to try and rid their bodies of pain and discomfort from sitting in their office chairs all day. Studies show that when employees stand, they have less pain and discomfort and can focus for longer periods of time therefore having better output in their work.

Proper Ergonomics: if a sit stand is out of the question, having the proper ergonomic accessories for your employees is extremely important. Monitor arms, proper seating, and keyboard trays should be used to prevent the harmful impact on their bodies as  much as possible. Working while you’re in pain or uncomfortable is never fun.

Environment: creating an overall positive and comfortable environment is important for employees. People do their best work in an environment that is suitable to their needs and appealing in aesthetic. Small changes can make a big difference, give employees a space that allows them to relax, sparks their creativity, or allows them to focus without interruptions.

Dropbox Offices

Allow employees to give their best work possible by creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment for them to work!

Tips For Creating Better Office Organization & Storage

Get an office that works with you, not against you!

Is your office not supporting all your current filing and storage needs? Does it feel like you have papers and documents everywhere with little space to work? There are many small changes that you can make to your office to improve the functionality of it to make your working day easier.

Filing: it is extremely important to have the right filing needs for employees based on their job role. Different departments and positions can have extremely different filing methods and amounts. Lateral Filing from 2 drawers to 5 drawers can keep papers organization making them easier to find and improving efficiency.

Desk Savers: are anything that can help save usable space on your desk. Monitor Arms are a great way to free up space by moving your computer monitor above the desk freeing up all that room below, plus it is more ergonomically friendly. Keyboard trays do the exact same thing by moving the keyboard off the desk creating more usable space.

CPU Holders: will hold your computer dock in a movable container so your can move it around to fit your seating and storage needs of your offices.

If your finding that your current workspace is completely inefficient and not working it may be time to look at a new workstation with built in hutches, filing, and storage solutions. Evolve, Bridges II, and Voi are all new modern looking workstations that have built in filing and storage needs without taking up a huge amount of space, this could be a great option for old cubicles and offices that are not working for current employees.

Any change big or small to change how employees work in a positive way is a great investment and can increase moral and employee efficiency. If you need better office organization come down to our Vancouver showroom where our sales staff can help solve all your storage and filing needs.