The Open Office
An open office plan has become more favorable than closed-in cubicles or separate offices. You’ve enjoyed the camaraderie and team-building, but it can have negative effects in the long run. Open offices encourage high noise levels and privacy is eliminated, which can result in stress and reduced work satisfaction. The Journal of Applied Psychology published a study that showed this office safety hazard in action. Forty clerical workers were exposed to low-intensity noise, while another group experienced silence. Both groups were given unsolvable math problems. The group exposed to noise gave up after a few tries, while the group working in silence continued to try and solve it. If you’re bothered by office noise, you can wear ear buds or headphones.

The Office Coffee Pot
Sad to say, but the communal coffee pot harbors bacteria and viruses, and is the most likely place to find norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious, and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. To combat the issue, it’s important to observe proper hand-washing and hygiene. If you or your coworker has been sick, don’t prepare the coffee that morning until all symptoms are gone. And of course, clean the coffee pot every night before leaving the office.

The Air Flow (Or Lack Thereof)
You could be allergic to work! Not the practice, but the actual building. Closed offices can keep in allergens and other substances that can cause symptoms like sneezing, wheezing and trouble breathing. If you notice the symptoms lessen after work, during a weekend or while on vacation, the office air could be the culprit. Paints, adhesives, and even your desk could be causing an allergic reaction. Thankfully Xdesk are made from all natural materials like bamboo and aluminum, so common additives like particleboard and formaldehyde aren’t used. These office safety hazards can be treated if you make an appointment with an allergist.

The Rising Temperatures
Ever notice how hard it is to concentrate if it’s too hot? A warm environment can decrease productivity in the form of drowsiness, restlessness and a drop in decision-making ability. If your office isn’t up for blasting cold air, bring in a few fans and wear light clothing to increase the air flow around you. This is even more important if you own a treadmill desk, since constant walking elevates your body temperature.

The Desk Chair
There have been countless studies showing the negative physical and mental effects of sitting all day. Remaining in one place has detrimental effects on productivity, and leads to major health problems like obesity and cardiovascular disease. This can easily be avoided with a standing desk, or by making a point to keep moving throughout the day.

Have you experienced any of these office safety hazards? How have you avoided them?

The post Hidden Office Safety Hazards appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

The Desk Chair
This standing desk alternative is a solid choice for the traditional workspace. Why stand when you can sit in a stuffy, over-sized office chair all day? Sure it can be uncomfortable, contorting your spine into an awkward C shape as your body’s fat burning ability completely shuts down. It’s a great way to prepare for a long winter if you’re hibernating. And they occasionally come with wheels. This feature means you’ll never have to get up and walk down the hall for a cup of coffee, just roll over to the break room.

The Boxed Cubicle
The cubicle. It’s slowly going out of style, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce about a time when the only window in view was the one open on your computer screen. Buzzing fluorescent lights and waves from the monitor are way more beneficial than real sunlight. And let’s not forget about the layout. Being cramped inside a box with mounting paper work so your boss can sneak up behind you and ask you to work all weekend is the ideal situation.

The Traditional Desk
A traditional desk is the perfect solution for someone who wants a standing desk alternative. They’re often large, occasionally made with formaldehyde, and 100 percent static. You won’t ever have to move positions or get up from your desk. And they’re convenient. Now you can Gchat your coworkers instead of ever having to talk to a real person. You can order lunch and have it delivered right to your desk, since the concept of a lunch break is a thing of the past. Most people already spend as much as 95% of their day working and eating at their desks, so you’re not alone.

And we have to mention the traditional workspace conference table. Everyone in the office always looks forward to long, drawn out meetings where the only thing on his or her mind is, “What’s for lunch?”

We have to be realistic and know that there are alternatives to adjustable height desks. You may be using one of these options today, go for it! And when you’re tired of being chained to a desk or boxed into a cubicle, check out these non-traditional workspaces, HERE. You may find yourself jumping on the bandwagon sooner than you think.

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You know that sitting all day is bad for your health, but it’s not a crime to sit down and give your legs a rest every once in a while (gasp!). So why not change the way you sit, for better posture and better focus? A kneeling chair could be the answer.

The kneeling chair has become a popular alternative to the traditional desk chair. When you’re ready to take a break from your standing desk (and hopefully you’re making small sit to stand adjustments throughout the day, for the best outcome possible), try using a kneeling chair. But what is this new wave office chair and how does it help improve sitting?

If you’re the typical office worker, you most likely use a chair that lacks the proper tools for the best comfort and back support. The basic kneeling chair rips away the back completely, and puts the user in the – as you may have guessed – kneeling position. Now there’s no room for slouching or straining your lower back muscles. Other models have a small backrest for lumbar support (the most important element to sitting)

The kneeling position has been slightly modified in these desk chairs, with your body set at a 110 degree angle. This is slightly larger than a 90 degree or less angle in traditional office chairs. This angle is ideal for sitting in an open, relaxed posture. And it supports the natural curvature of the spine.

In a kneeling chair, the hips slide forward and align with the back, neck and shoulders, to help evenly distribute your weight and reduce spinal compression. This means less stress on the lower back as well as the leg muscles.

As a fair warning, the first time you try a kneeling chair it may not be the most comfortable position, since your body isn’t used kneeling for an extended period of time. Just like sitting to standing with an adjustable height desk, slowly work your way to using this nontraditional desk chair. If you stand behind an adjustable desk most of the time but need a break once in a while, use the kneeling chair in 30 minute increments.

When you’re ready to sit, adjust your Xdesk to a lower position according to your kneeling height and you’re good to go. But don’t get too comfortable!

Like all chairs, there are pitfalls to using it for an extended period of time. It can confine the user to one position, which leads to cramps and unnecessary pressure on the knees and shins. And some users can experience poor circulation in the legs if they sit in the chair too long.

But oddly enough, this reason makes them a great desk chair to have around an adjustable height desk, since it allows you to sit in moderation and encourages you to stand and stretch once those shins start to ache.

What do you think about the kneeling chair? Is this something you would own in your office?

The post The Kneeling Chair: The Nontraditional Desk Chair appeared first on Xdesk Blog.