What you need to know about standing work and productivity

What would you do if you learned about an easy way to become much more productive? They'd probably try it right there, even though it's too good to be true. Recent research by Gregory Garrett, Mark Benden, Ranjana Mehta, Adam Pickens, S. Camille Peres, Hongwei Zhao. … Texas A&M University is just from that opera.

Educational staff analyzed how height-adjustable desks affect productivity. It turned out that using such tables instead of traditional office furniture increases work efficiency by 46%.

This data spread on the Internet, and people took it at face value. Still, no one refuses to become much more productive, just getting up from a chair while working.

However, there were skeptics who did not limit themselves to only conclusions and looked into the experimental methodology. It turned out that the study involved two groups of contact center workers. The first group consisted of newcomers who only took calls from potential customers, and the second group consisted of experienced old-timers who helped existing clients.

In an amicable way, the composition of each of the groups should be mixed. Only then would it be possible to estimate the percentage of successfully completed tasks.

The ambiguity of the experiment casts doubt on the conclusions about the effectiveness of standing work. At the same time, one cannot judge by only one, not entirely successful, episode. What do other studies say?

A little better for health

Jack P. Callaghan, a professor at the University of Waterloo, reviewed eight academic papers on standing work and productivity. He did not get clear conclusions: three studies indicated an increase in productivity, three studies did not find any effect, and one contained mixed results.

Therefore, the scientist considers the use of standing workstations, as a rule, neutral for mental efficiency.

However, vertically adjustable tables offer some benefits that have nothing to do with performance. Associate Professor Lucas J. Carr of Iowa State University talks about the physical health benefits of alternating standing and sitting. In this mode, for example, calorie consumption increases, blood flow improves, and discomfort for the musculoskeletal system decreases.

But here, too, you need to know when to stop.

Working while standing for long periods of time causes problems, including joint pain, swelling, poor circulation, and fatigue.

In other words, you need to find the right balance between sitting and standing work. At the same time, we repeat, we are not talking about increasing efficiency: the use of vertically adjustable tables can only have an indirect effect on productivity.

It's about care and price

If employees feel that the employer cares about their comfort, they are more motivated to achieve results. Adjustable workstations, like fitness balls, treadmills and bicycles, are a clear sign that the company is paying close attention to its employees. Therefore, many foreign companies do not refuse workers if they ask for standing workstations for themselves. However, there are no general requests for re-equipment of the workplace.

Perhaps people would be more interested in height-adjustable desks if they were using them at home. And here the question of price arises. Basic models cost around $ 200, while slightly more advanced options sell for around $ 400. The price of high-tech specimens skyrockets to $ 3,000.

Of course, there are ready-made drawings and you can do everything with your own hands, but looking the truth in the eye, who will do this?

Outcome

Sitting is almost as harmful as smoking - we wrote about this. In this situation, standing jobs look like a salvation. But scientists are increasingly inclined to believe that standing work practically does not improve a person's physical condition, and even more so does not activate the mode of increased productivity.

Therefore, it is best to pick up a comfortable chair and regularly break away from it for a short warm-up - this will energize you.