Health x Wellness
ErgoTune & EverDesk+ believes the future of work is hybrid
86 percent of respondents in a poll conducted by ErgoTune & EverDesk+ believe that the hybrid work arrangement is here to stay.
According to ErgoTune & EverDesk+, a hybrid approach to working from home and the office can be efficient and productive.
The team behind EverDesk+ and ErgoTune conducted a series of Instagram polls and surveys in November 2021 to understand the impression and preferences of working from home and whether location is linked to productivity. They reached out to nearly 200 respondents.
In summary, 65 percent thought that WFH is a more productive arrangement than WFO. Work from home provides less distractions, more flexibility and comfort. More than half of the responses revolved around comfort. 86 percent believe that the hybrid work arrangement is here to stay.
the Active Age reached out to the EverDesk+ and ErgoTune team to understand their perspective about the bybrid work structure and how ergonomic tools can help with it.
the Active Age (AA): Where is the future of work heading toward, and does a hybrid work approach really change the dynamics of WFO (work from office) that much?
EverDesk+ and ErgoTune (E&E): We’re definitely heading towards a hybrid approach where it’s probably 50-50.
Think the part-office-part-WFH model has always been tested in the previous decade, but it just really needed a push to get every company on board – and that happened to be the COVID-19 pandemic.
AA: How does EverDesk+ and/or ErgoTune view productivity in both hybrid and WFO environments?
E&E: Employees actually save time in terms of commuting to work and it ends up being a win-win for both corporations and workers.
Time is better allocated to work as well as rest in that approach, making it a boon for productivity.
In terms of collaboration, some may think that the lack of face-to-face interactions is gravely detrimental to collective work performance. While we do agree that the nuances in non-verbal communication (NVC) and body language essential for smooth teamwork are overlooked (pun intended) in companies that do not practice switching on webcams for meetings, we believe that this problem can be remedied with a hybrid work model. By scheduling as many meetings as possible on days that we are back in the office, we can still maintain effective communication and bonding with one another while not sacrificing the increased productivity from WFH.
Naturally, this is not a catch-all for all companies and departments as it depends on the nature of their work and job industry, but it is definitely a step towards evolution in terms of how employees communicate with one another and how it affects overall job productivity.
AA: What is the future of ergonomic furniture as we go hybrid?
E&E: I think after a 3 or 5 year period, product and furniture designers will definitely take note of the climate of where we’re at as a society. More ergonomic features will be included in product designs, and perhaps we may see more modular furniture for limited spaces in large cities.
AA: What is an optimal EverDesk+ and/or ErgoTune set-up to boost home productivity, from both a basic budget and a premium budget POV?
E&E: Investing in an ErgoTune Supreme for your health will definitely pay off, regardless of your budget. Just look at the benefits and differences it makes for your body after a month or so! There’s really nothing like a proper ergonomic chair that can be tailored to your body shape. Adjusting the right seat depth, backrest height for the lumbar support, and headrest and armrest height to what fits you can really mean a world of difference in the long run.
In terms of an optimal EverDesk+ set-up for both basic and premium budgets, though, there is no definite answer we can provide because it depends entirely on your personal work system and needs.
What we have is a plethora of exciting components (i.e. frames, tabletops) and accessories (eg. for cable management, desk organisation, or just ergonomic boosters) that can integrate into a thoughtful ecosystem, best suited to help you reach the maximum productivity and efficiency possible. And that’s the beauty of it.
AA: What are some of the benefits of using ergonomic furniture over the long-term as we WFH?
E&E: If you’re using it right, for starters, you will definitely feel a lot fewer body aches and pains. This is because your posture is often at an optimal position that places the least stress on your muscles, when previously you were straining it for at least 8 hours a day at your desk.
With fewer body pains, you naturally feel happier and more motivated to work as well.
This potentially leads to better work performance and productivity, and of course, you reduce the risk of injuries related to poor ergonomics, doing your health (and wallet, because medical bills aren’t cheap) a favour.
At the end of the day, ergonomic furniture is meant to let you become the best version of yourself without you having to take unnecessary risks and put in unnecessary effort.
That is why at ErgoTune and EverDesk+, our products make you feel both absolutely comfortable and incredible. They don’t just serve your basic needs, they meet your every expectation and then surpass them with additional features like a sit-stand reminder, or a built-in desk organisation/cable management tool, because we’re in it for the long run!
Image credit: ErgoTune & EverDesk+
