New National Survey Indicates They're Also Not Taking This Sitting Down
MUSCATINE, Iowa, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. adults spend a lot of time
in their office chairs ... and they report it's not exactly quality time,
either.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080606/CLF012 )
A new study on the comfort and style of office chairs in the U.S.
workplace by market research company Harris Interactive(R) found that only
17 percent of U.S. office chair users(1) feel their office chair is very
comfortable.
The results are from a recent nationwide online survey - conducted for
contract furniture designer and manufacturer Allsteel Inc. - that found 32
percent of office chair users say their office chair is actually
uncomfortable, and more than half, 57 percent, would love to replace their
current chair.
This latest study uncovered more seating sadness as well, with 60
percent of office chair users admitting they have some type of complaint
about their office chair. About half (51 percent) complain about various
comfort and ergonomics issues, another 25 percent cite concerns about
adjustability and 12 percent indicate they were unhappy with their chair's
style - or lack thereof.
Choosing the right office chair is imperative, according to Scott
Openshaw, Human Factors and Ergonomics Manager for Allsteel. He notes that
comfort is the key to anyone who sits in a chair for long periods of time.
"When we're comfortable, the absence of the chair's awareness lets people
concentrate on the task at hand; in essence, comfort equals productivity.
But some chairs don't provide that comfort because their design may not
properly support the back, neck and shoulders," Openshaw says.
The survey's findings seem to confirm this assessment. Because when it
comes to comfort issues, 34 percent of office chair users report inadequate
lumbar (lower back) support, 19 percent said their chair is generally not
comfortable, 12 percent noted their chairs' arms prevent them from getting
close to their desk and another 10 percent said their chairs' arms location
doesn't provide adequate support.
But what was the reaction from the 77 percent of office chair users who
have chairs with ergonomic or adjustable features built into or available
to them? There is still a significant degree of displeasure, according to
the study. Even with ergonomic features, 23 percent note that their chair
does not fit their individual body size or type, another 24 percent say
their chairs' controls or adjustments are difficult to find and 29 percent
complain that once found, the controls are difficult to adjust.
Openshaw notes that the principles of ergonomics (a science focused on
human fit and decreased fatigue and discomfort through product design) are
often available, and even promoted, for advanced seating but can be
difficult or non-intuitive to use. As a result, they do not provide their
users the comfort they need.
"A number of today's advanced chairs have so many knobs and levers that
users are intimidated by their apparent complexity. Because of this
perceived difficulty, many workers don't even bother using them any more
and end up sitting in an unadjusted chair that makes them uncomfortable
throughout the day," he continues.
So, what to do if you're unhappy with your office chair? Comfortable
workers seem to be more productive workers - as nearly half of the survey
respondent office chair users (47 percent) agree they would be more
productive if their chair was more comfortable. As a result, Allsteel
recommends picking a new office chair that provides comfort as a priority
and that means healthy movement, proper support and adjustments that are
not only easy to find, but also easy to use.
For complete survey results, more information on ergonomic seating or
Allsteel's new Acuity seating, visit http://www.allsteeloffice.com.
(1) U.S. adults ages 18+ who spend at least one hour in an office chair
per week (n= 1,987).
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