There are certain jobs that we associate with presenting a certain degree of danger to an employee’s well-being: manufacturing, construction, and firefighting, for example. You wouldn’t typically think of an office desk job as presenting a much physical danger to your body. And yet the rise in deskbound jobs and ensuing increase in sedentary lifestyles has dangerous consequences for the health and well-being of employees.

People who spend six or more hours at their desk are at increased risk for a wide variety of chronic and even life-threatening conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, anxiety and depression, high blood pressure, and back problems.

Why is sitting at a desk so dangerous? Our bodies were designed to move, and the more sedentary we become, the more our bodies’ natural processes start to break down and backfire. Metabolism slows down, muscles burn less fat, blood flows more sluggishly through our veins, bones and joints weaken, posture deteriorates, and energy levels stagnate. As a result, we gain weight, become even less mobile, and develop increased risk for blood clots, heart attacks, chronic disease, and early mortality.

It’s called “sitting disease,” and hundreds of thousands of employees are affected.

If you’re concerned about your employees’ welfare, it’s time to start considering what changes you can make to their work environment in order to promote health and well-being.

You can’t change the nature of the work that needs to be done. But you can change the environment in which they complete it.

As an employer, the simplest and most effective thing you can do to support employee wellbeing is to replace traditional desks with height-adjustable sit-stand desks.

Sit-stand desks have become more and more popular in recent years  – and for good reason. A sit-stand desk lets employees alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day, while allowing them to perform their desk-oriented work routines as usual, without interruption.

If purchasing a bulk order of sit-stand desks for your employees sounds like an expensive investment, consider how the following benefits to your employees will also benefit your business:

1. Enhanced mood - Happier employees have a better attitude, which means they’re more likely to work harder, stay with the company longer, and collaborate more effectively with colleagues.
2. Elevated productivity - Standing increases energy levels, stimulates circulation, improves focus, and reduces discomfort, all of which contribute to an employee’s ability to be productive at work.
3. Improved mental health - That means less time wasted or days missed due to employees struggling with mental health challenges, along with an improved focus on the job.
4. Increased Physical Health - When employees are healthier, they miss less work. That translates directly into money saved in healthcare expenses and absenteeism.

Investing in ergonomic office furniture like sit-stand desks for your employees will pay itself back in healthcare savings, increased productivity, and employee satisfaction. By some estimates, employers can expect a $3-7 return on investment for every $1 spent on standing desks and ergonomic office furniture.

The number of employers swapping traditional desks for standing desks has increased by over 30% in the past few years, and that number will only continue to go up. Employees are also starting to expect standing desks as a given and may be turned off by an employer that doesn’t provide them. Not only are standing desks beneficial or your current employees, but providing sit-stand options will be increasingly important for both attracting and retaining top talent in the coming years.

It’s simple: If you care about your employees’ wellbeing and you care about the success of your business, investing in standing desks just makes sense.

Interested in placing a bulk order of height-adjustable sit-stand desks for your employees? We offer discounts on bulk orders. You can place a bulk order here.