A classic “This is Sportscenter” Ad that I am sure many people have had experience with, having other people in their office “borrow” their office chair…Maybe not a throne, but you get the idea!

By the way, neither of those are ideal big and tall chairs - Lebron does qualify as Big and Tall, too, if you are wondering!

Happy Holidays!

Each year, there is a great show called NEOCON, in June, in grand Chicago, Illinois.  Each year, manufacturers showcase new products, for better or for worse.  While it is a few months away, new products start getting publicity prior to then, and we have found one product from a manufacturer we like that we think could be the next great chair:

The Diffrient Work Chair from Humanscale.

Diffrient Work Chair by Humanscale

Why is it so great?  Primarily, because it is the first Humanscale chair, with the patented Humanscale mechanism and recline technology, that can actually be classified under the value price range.  (While all Humanscale’s are really a value buy at whatever price you pay - the chair is worth its price - this one will be a perfect complement for these economic times, the quality and reputability at a very affordable price).  The chair embodies the structure of the Liberty and Freedom series chairs, simple two lever adjustment, force tension recline…All while keeping Humanscale’s ergonomic ideals intact (no forceful pressure exerted on the spine is the best pressure).  The chair is recyclable, in keeping with the company’s commitment to the environment, so that’s a plus.

We haven’t sat on it, or actually physically seen it yet, but we’re looking forward to it.  As always, we will have a thorough review of the chair at that time, along with a comprehensive video review.

It is an exciting time for new chairs, and, as I recently read, it will be a great time for innovation in products, because as the economy crumbles, innovators are forced to think outside the box, to adapt their products to a new budget and a new consumer.  This is great for all of us.  I think will fit that statement perfectly.

We got our information from ID-Mag.com.  ID Mag is an design industry publication that ranks the newest and best office products each year at Neocon through a design competition.

Read the entire article here: http://www.id-mag.com/article/Eight-Easy-Pieces/

With the economy forcing people to the unemployment line and companies working to discover ways to cut overhead costs, many workers are finding out what telecommuting is all about.

Although current statistics show that only 5% of all workers work exclusively from home, the trend for Americans to work from home for part of the work week is dramatically moving upward. In 2005 the Wall Street Journal released statistics regarding telecommuting. On a world-wide basis it is predicted that nearly 100 million workers will be working from home at least one day a month by the end of 2008. That is more than double the figure from 2000. The figure in the United States, at 12% in 2000, will be up near 27% in 2008.

“Everything is in place now,” says Alec Lopez, Founder and CEO of Sitbetter.com. “There are a lot of advancements in technology, like Broadband technology. Anyone can log in almost anywhere in the world now-a-days. A stumbling block most people don’t think about though is their home office. They think just tossing their laptop on their kitchen table and sitting in a kitchen chair, or working from their living room recliner, is fine until their back gives out.”

Often adopting the correct sitting position is overlooked. The lower back below the beltline should be as far back as possible. This will ensure the lumbar receives the support for straight posture.

We love the Office here, for a variety of reasons that if you’ve seen the show you’re most likely familiar with.  Great writing, acting, and above all, ironically deadpan office comedy.  It’s great.

The last episode of the latest season, aired 12/4/08, hit close to home for us.  Titled “The Surplus”  it essentially focused around a budget surplus and what to do with it - 95% of the office battling to get new ergonomic office chairs, and 2 other people wanting a new copier. It seemed that the only person on the show who didn’t know what the value in new chairs is was the boss. (He even pronounced “ergonomically” erglonomically, or some disasterous version of the word!)  It was funny, but true to the point that chairs are very much overlooked…

Anyways, we have an “older” copier here at Sitbetter…And man, do those copies sometimes suck!  That said, at least it drives a complaint only when it is used, as opposed to a really uncomfortable, old office chair - they can be horrible and complaint worthy every minute spent on it.

Do I recommend buying chairs over a copier?  Not if we sold copiers too!  On a serious note, though, all I am saying to take from the episode and this post is you cannot overlook the seating in the office.  You can always use carbon paper to make copies - can’t exactly have employees be productive sitting on a crappy office chair.

About two months ago I woke up numerous times throughout the night. My left shoulder, the lower part of the deltoid to be more specific, was aching quite a bit; sharp shooting pains. Being an athlete, I thought I’d just strained it at the gym or the softball field. The next morning I had breakfast, popped a couple of ibuprofens and soon the pain dissipated to a slight ache. Over the course of the next couple weeks, I continued this routine nearly every day. Eventually, I began taking ibuprofen before going to sleep, but I was still waking up during the night with sharp cutting pains. Those weeks of pain multiplied into two months.

The denial that I’d done some damage was reinforced frequently. The pain wasn’t constant and only occurred when my arm moved to a particular position. I could still throw a softball; actually my throw had become more accurate. I couldn’t lift as much weight on my right side at the gym though, and being that I’m not a person who enjoys sitting on a bike or running on a treadmill, my workouts became sporadic. My rationale? I probably just needed a break from the gym.

The pain was still there though, and it was getting worse.

I went to see a physical therapist. We talked about a number of different situations and it came down to the chair I was using. Yeah, I know, I work for Sitbetter, so you’d think I’d know better. And, no, it isn’t my chair at the office but my chair at home. The one in my home office, where I sit to pay my bills, respond to personal emails, to chat with family and friends, journal, and to do research.

My favorite ergonomic chair is the Infinity Series Mesh Back Chair (EMC-11), so I ordered it. It comes with free shipping and should get here in two days. It has some great adjustments, like a two-way adjustable lumbar, adjustable arms, a 2:1 syncro knee tilt locking mechanism and a breathable black Mesh.

On Wednesday of next week, I start doing exercises with some rubber bands; different colors with different tensions. I can’t even begin to tell you what exercising with rubber bands is going to do for my ego, but I have the right chair in my home office, and according to my physical therapist, “You just need to ‘sit better’ at home.” Her words, not mine.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, ergonomics is defined as: the applied science of equipment design used for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.

More simply put, the concept of ergonomics can improve your health and keep you feeling better at work by avoiding neck and back injuries and other common office hazards such as carpel tunnel syndrome.

You can change the way you feel during the workday by making your workstation ergonomically correct. Sitting on an ergonomically safe office chair and placing your computer monitor at eye level to prevent eye strain and neck damage can make all the difference in how you feel after spending long hours at your desk.

Along with a safer and much more comfortable workspace, an ergonomically correct office provides function and can also add style to the workplace. Ergonomic chairs are available in a wide variety of sizes and finishes. Manufacturers including Herman Miller, Steelcase, Boss Office, OMF, and Humanscale offer chairs that are engineered with adjustable height and adequate lumbar support to help users maintain a neutral posture and avoid too much stress being placed on the spine.

Making sure your office is set up properly to fit the individual is also key to preventing unnecessary injury. The phone and other frequently used office equipment should be placed within easy reach. The keyboard and mouse should lie flat on the desk to avoid carpel tunnel syndrome. Office chairs also need to be set to accommodate personal proportions.

Here are some tips to setting up an ergonomic chair correctly:

1. Make sure to use a chair with casters and a 5-point base for easy movement and minimal tipping

2. Adjust the chair height to a level that allows your feet to be flat on the floor and thighs parallel to the ground, keeping your knees at a 90 degree angle

3. Measure the chair depth so that the back of your knees are 2 inches from the end of the seatpan

4. Align the backrest to press comfortably against your back and follow the natural curves of your spine

5. Set the armrest in vertical alignment so that your elbows for a 90 degree angle when your hands rest on the keyboard

Using office ergonomics is a healthy way to achieve a more efficient and productive workplace while the benefits of feeling better at work can never be underestimated.

High Back Executive Chair

So you’re looking for a High Back Executive chair.  You know the sort, wrapped in soft leather with lots of padding in the seat and back with a back high enough you can easily rest your head back and feel supported!

You also know that those darned things are expensive!

Well, of course generally you’re going to get what you pay for, more expensive high back executive chairs are going to have better quality leather, better padding and are simply going to be sturdier and better built. 

That’s not saying that you can’t find bargains, but generally, the high back executive chairs you’re thinking of are going to start from about 250 dollars and go up.

Look around, you’ll find lots of styles, from button-tufted traditional to more modern pillow-tops at a great range of prices.

Let’s see, the negatives on this chair first…

It’s expensive and it creaks some.

Done!

The positives- how much time do you have?

I first sat in this chair a couple months ago on a chance thing, a rep came in to talk about another line, and I asked him what that line had to help with back pain.  He told me I had to look at this chair (which I’d seen in a store before, but…), so he brought it in and as soon as I sat in it, I was sold!

This is the most comfortable office chair I’ve ever sat in!

The back has a number of ‘ribs’ which can adjust and conform to an individual’s needs, and when set, it locks into place.  This allows one to say, put more pressure in the lumbar region, or less, or give more support to the upper back, or…. do whatever you need!  The back also wraps around, cradling the body, giving a level of comfort simply not found in any other chair! 

We have a sales guy here, he has a bad back and has only ever been comfortable in one chair, I invited him to sit in it, and when he was asked how it felt, he could only say- “Oh wow!”

This is a chair with a lot of functionality, feels great (looks strange!), and is such a comfortable sit, I would simply recommend it to anyone, bad back or not!

So, you’ve finally decided to get with the 21st century and set up an ergonomic office!  You might only have a few dozen questions or so on how to do it, why go to all that expense and where to go, etc, etc, etc!

Some great questions, because setting up an ergonomic office can not only be confusing, but expensive, so do it right the first time, not guessing about how to go about it and spending far too much on the wrong products!

Here’s an example. 

I googled ergonomics, and I came across a particular ‘ergonomic’ e-tailer who was passing a chair like this one off as an ergonomic chair!  Now, don’t get me wrong, this might be a perfectly great chair, but an ergonomic office chair?…. Not a chance!

So then you start looking around, and discounting the chairs which likely are not ergonomic office chairs, you start to see the price tags and the coughing, hacking and spasming starts!

After you wake up, drag yourself up onto your chair and sip some water…. let me explain to you just why it makes economic sense to set your employees up with as good of ergonomic office chairs and accessories as you can….

A recent study shows that the average employee, when outfitted properly with a sensible ergonomic office, chair, accessories and everything, is going to be 10-15% more productive.

Imagine that, figure if that employee is paid 40K a year, and gets even 5 % more productive…… (does math in head….. grrrr, not coming….. )…. carry the two…. ohhh forget it (grabs calculator)…. That’s 2000 more a year in productivity! 

So figure, if a chair costs $800, keyboard tray, monitor arm, footrest and light another $600 or so….  (grabs calculator again…)… that setup pays for itself in 8 months!   Or 4 months if you go with the 10 percent!

Quite simply, putting together an ergonomic office makes great business sense!

So how to do it?  Well, you don’t have to take my word on it, you can look at Cornell University’s ergonomic website and see what they recommend.  In short, however, a good chair, monitor arm, keyboard tray, footrest and task light.  I’ll recommend the Freedom Chair as a great high-quality ergonomic office chair, and Humanscale’s keyboard tray, monitor arm and footrests are very good and quality pieces as well.

So, who to buy from?

Find someone who knows what the heck they’re talking about!

If their idea of an ergonomic office chair is like the one about…. ummm not likely a great place to shop! 

Of course I recommend SitBetter.com, but heck, I’m biased!