Know How To Sit? Local Back Care Consultant Says Simple Office Space Changes Can Relieve Pain

June 7th, 2008 in Health    No Comments

This article contains a number of ergonomic tips for small changes in office space that can instantly alleviate back pain. A few of the tips:

• Adjust your chair for your height. The back of your knees should be two finger-widths from the edge of the chair with your feet flat on the ground. People with shorter legs may need footrests.
• Use the back of your chair for support. Too much leaning forward strains your back muscles.
• Bring your work to you. Your monitor should sit about an arms length from your face. Always adjust your seat first then bring your work station to you. Most people need to bring their monitor and keyboard forward.

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Sick And Tired In The Workplace

June 2nd, 2008 in Health    No Comments

This article is one of a number of articles that show that “Presenteeism” is not just a U.S. phenomenon. A 2008 study shows that better than eight out of ten Canadians have gone to work too ill, exhausted or stressed out to perform productively. The author blames the economy, in-house job losses and the resulting increased workload on those remaining for stressing workers to the point of despair. Increased competition and workloads leave them too stressed to sleep, so they go into work early and work late to make deadlines, leaving them with more stress and even less sleep. This cycle, if uninterrupted, results in a resentful employee who is less and less productive and more prone to illness and disabilities. (more…)

Designing Light And Air – How The New Bank Of America Building Will Save Energy And Let Its Occupants Breathe Easy

March 17th, 2008 in Design    No Comments

This article is based on an interview with the architect of Manhattan’s new Bank of America Tower, which is expected to earn a platinum LEED rating from the U.S Green Building Council when it opens later this year.

While the building’s low energy profile has generated a great deal of publicity – it uses about half the energy of most buildings its size – the focus of this article is on what E.O. Wilson terms “biophilia,” the health, light and productivity story. (more…)

Lose Weight At Work

March 3rd, 2008 in Furniture    No Comments

Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase teamed its designers with obesity experts from the Mayo Clinic to develop a mobile office they call the Walkstation. Readers are asked to imagine an office desk attached to a treadmill, enabling the fitness-focused to walk while they work. The article assures readers that the pace is slow enough to minimize interference with productivity, while the super-quiet motor allows normal telephone conversations during its use. (more…)