What about office chairs?

It may seem a not so important matter, but to those who work in an office, chairs can be an issue. Or better, they can lead to various health issues. While working in an office is for many a “luxury” – if compared to jobs in factories, farms, building sites – it does not come free of problems. First and foremost, the worker has to spend eight hours a day in the very same room, five days a week, all year round. Secondly, he or she is surrounded by the same colleagues (which, let’s admit it, can’t be hundreds of individuals) every day: what if you don’t really get along with one or more of them? Third, your boss can keep tabs on you. If all of this is not enough, there are all the problems connected with your immobility: sitting for eight hours at a desk, probably in front of a computer, or with a phone in your hand. Sitting.

This is why office chairs are a serious matter. Choosing wrong office chairs is a mistake you don’t want to make if you don’t want to incur in back and neck problems that may be pretty hard to get rid of, in the future. Quality office chairs ensure health, and leads to higher productivity: for example, better office chairs can reduce the number of breaks an employee needs to take.

So, how do we “recognise” good office chairs from bad ones? Good chairs let you adjust the seat height so to keep the feet flat on the floor, the thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk. In addition, quality office chairs have a seat which is wide and deep enough to support anybody comfortably – the best office chairs have a lumbar support too. Finally, choose a chair which is built with a good material – better if it breathes – and that has enough padding to be comfortable for longer periods.

Office chairs can be bought online, of course, but it is always best to go to a shop and try a number of different chairs. No need to mention that you should sit on them long enough to decide if it is comfortable for you. It is also a good idea to verify the professionalism of the seller to make sure the chair you choose will last long, and by that I mean that it keeps the shape of the seat and back support in the long run.

Health is what counts most, both for happiness and productivity, so if you care about your health (or your employees’) make sure you choose the right office chairs for your workplace.

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