ZEELAND, Mich., Feb. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's about this
time every year when those New Year's resolutions begin to lose
focus. But a new survey conducted by Herman Miller indicates that
perhaps an unexpected resolution brought on by the pandemic may be
the easiest one to complete yet, and one that won't fade in just a
few weeks. The resolution? Investing in a better home office.
Wellness has always been a prominent New Year's focus, featuring
a plethora of new gym memberships, diet plans, and better bedtimes.
But after a year that altered every facet of normal life, it's no
surprise to see massive shifts in lifestyles, needs, and goals for
the future. According to the new research by Herman Miller, the
COVID-19 pandemic may have us thinking differently about how we
stay healthy in 2021. Herman Miller surveyed 1,000 office workers
now working at home due to COVD-19, gaining interesting insights
into health and productivity. According to the survey, workers are
sitting 20% more than they did pre-pandemic, 9 out of 10 are
experiencing real health problems, and the number of workers
sitting for more than 8 hours a day has increased nearly 90%.
"Diet, exercise, drinking enough water—all of those are key if
you want to impact your health," says Debbie Propst, President of Herman Miller Group
Retail. "But you can't stop there. For total wellness, we need to
think about how and where we sit just as much. That's not a new
finding for us—Herman Miller has been saying that for decades. But
now after experiencing work away from their ergonomically equipped
offices, people are starting to finally believe it."
Of the 1,000 office workers surveyed, nearly 90% of them
reported experiencing pain or ailments such as a stiff neck
(39.4%), back pain (53.13%), difficulty sleeping (44.28%), sore
arms (34.53%), sore legs (33.83%), and headaches or eye strain
(27.26%) since the beginning of the pandemic.
"Statistically speaking, those are some shocking numbers," says
Propst. "Anecdotally, we heard of lots of issues from our own
employees and worked to provide them ways to get proper office
furniture for their homes. To better help other companies and
individuals, we needed to understand the impact the migration from
office to work-from-home had on workers. What we found was people
are inside more, sitting longer than they ever have, and don't have
the right equipment to perform their best or quite frankly; stay
healthy."
While people certainly knew the difference between a dining
chair and an office chair prior to the pandemic, they
underestimated the value of ergonomic office furniture. More than
half responded they are not working in a home office space but
instead are typically working from the kitchen or dining room
table, couch, bed, and/or car. "At the start of the pandemic,
people were happy sitting anywhere," adds Propst. "But as days
turned to weeks and weeks to months, people really began to feel
unhealthy and recognize the need for ergonomic solutions." The
research found that nearly 8 out of 10 office workers who are now
working from home believe having a better home office setup would
help them to be more productive while 95% agreed they need
improvements (such as an ergonomically designed chair, an extra
monitor, or a height adjustable desk) to feel more comfortable and
healthy working from home.
"Almost every company we speak with is focused on two things
during the pandemic: keeping their employees healthy and equipping
them with what they need to be productive," says Propst. "If they
are sitting more than 8 hours a day, their health is absolutely
tied to the ergonomics of how they are sitting. It stands to reason
that an employee who is sitting comfortably and pain free will be
more productive."
Additionally, the Herman Miller survey found that over 40% rank
an ergonomically designed office chair at the top of their wish
list and an overwhelming 78% of Americans agree they would like to
receive a new, ergonomically designed chair for work or gaming as a
gift. "We've seen a significant increase in home office purchases
over the last few quarters," says Propst. "As people have
acclimated to remote work, they've been able to turn their focus on
their wellness and what they need to support their health. In terms
of commitment, creating an ergonomic workspace could be one of the
easiest new year goals to accomplish—once you have it, it will
provide countless benefits for years to come."
The survey, which included over 1,000 US workers who are
currently working from home, was conducted in partnership with
One Poll.
"The new year has always been a perfect time to reflect and
reexamine how we are supporting our health," says Propst. "While
that reflection process is perhaps more difficult this year, unique
circumstances often leave behind unique lessons that will be
relevant for the rest of our lives. Whether someone had never given
their home office any thought or had but wasn't sure where to
start, our goal is to equip and support the needs of everyone with
office solutions that will empower them to succeed, dream, and
grow, regardless of what the future holds."
About Herman Miller
Herman Miller is a globally recognized leader in design. Since
its inception in 1905, the company's innovative, problem-solving
designs and furnishings have inspired the best in people wherever
they live, work, learn, heal, and play. In 2018, Herman Miller
created Herman Miller Group, a purposefully selected, complementary
family of brands that includes Colebrook Bosson Saunders, Design
Within Reach, Geiger, HAY, Maars Living Walls, Maharam, naughtone,
and Nemschoff. Guided by a shared purpose—design for the good of
humankind—Herman Miller Group shapes places that matter for
customers while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable
future for all. For more information visit
www.hermanmiller.com/about-us.
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SOURCE Herman Miller, Inc.