The Home Office: Ergonomic Lessons From the “New Normal”

Davis, Kermit G.; Kotowski, Susan; Daniel, D; Gerding, T.J.; Naylor, Jennifer C.; Syck, Megan

doi:10.1177/1064804620937907

Cited by 118 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, managers must not neglect other physical and environmental risks, for example, those related to biomechanical issues—including when remote working is implemented. When working at home, uncomfortable equipment and furniture, long work hours, and inappropriate postures can damage workers' health (Davis et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussion: Contributions From Ergonomics and Pdwmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review on the impacts of Covid‐19 on work: Contributions and a path forward from the perspectives of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work

Sigahi

Kawasaki

Bolis

et al. 2021

Hum Ftrs & Erg Mfg Svc

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Work is a major issue in the discussions on the Covid‐19 pandemic, whose consequences impair the capacities of workers at all organizational levels and impose unexpected challenges on managers. Nevertheless, the scientific literature still lacks an overview of how researchers have been covering the issue. This article presents a systematic review to investigate the impact of Covid‐19 on work and workers of all occupations, reveal research gaps, and help managers to adapt to organizations amid the pandemic. This review is based on a sample of 258 papers from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Quantitative and qualitative analysis indicated a vast majority of studies focused on frontline healthcare workers and a lack of empirical investigation on managers' work. We show how literature has been addressing different aspects of work (e.g., workers' health, working conditions, procedures, protection equipment, remote working, etc.) in the various economic sectors. We discuss the results in light of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work, two disciplines that conceive work and organization as intimately connected, and that can assist managers in meeting the difficulties brought by the pandemic. We highlight that considering the construction of health, interindividual variability, subjective relation to work, supportive workplace environment, and organizational and individual capabilities can play a key role in successfully adapting and transforming organizations in the current scenario.

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Section: Discussion: Contributions From Ergonomics and Pdwmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review on the impacts of Covid‐19 on work: Contributions and a path forward from the perspectives of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work

Sigahi

Kawasaki

Bolis

et al. 2021

Hum Ftrs & Erg Mfg Svc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several factors were positively associated with back likely contributed to the high levels of discomfort [10]. Additionally, the use of an external mouse…”

Section: Other Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the chair height and the armrest position has been associated with musculoskeletal pain if positioned or used improperly [9]. Current home office arrangements may range from a computer atop a kitchen table, a laptop used in a recliner, or work being completed while sitting in a bed or on the floor [10]. None of these workstations are geared for completing a full day of work, especially from an ergonomic perspective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Gerding

Syck

Daniel

et al. 2021

WOR

Self Cite

105

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BACKGROUND: As millions of workers have shifted to telework, special accommodations for workers with respect to ergonomics may be required to ensure the workforce remains healthy. METHODS: A survey about home office ergonomics and discomfort was sent to faculty, staff, and administrators by email and was completed by 843 individuals. RESULTS: Over 40%of the participants reported moderate to severe discomfort (severe low/middle back pain, moderate discomfort in eyes/neck/head, and discomfort in the upper back/shoulders). Laptops (always and often) were widely used (85%) with most using the laptop monitor (55%) of all respondents. Further, less than 45%of the seating conditions were reported as having adjustable arm rests. CONCLUSION: As teleworking in makeshift offices becomes more common, the risk of significant discomfort and potentially more serious musculoskeletal disorders may result from poor static postures. Companies may need to accommodate workers by allowing them to take home office chairs, external monitors, keyboards, and mice as laptops are insufficient, ergonomically.

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“…Voluntary WFH is often adopted by employees as a strategy to adapt work to private life, motivated by family and household needs [ 14 ], and may be practiced mainly by employees having favorable conditions for WFH in terms of family life, household chores and workstation at home. Less voluntary WFH during the pandemic, likely performed even under unfavorable conditions, may be associated with changed physical behaviors because of these contextual differences [ 15 , 16 ]. More research on the trade-off between positive and negative aspects of WFH is therefore needed as a basis for policy recommendations during and beyond the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sweden: effects on 24-h time-use in office workers

et al. 2021

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered national recommendations encouraging people to work from home (WFH), but the possible impact of WFH on physical behaviors is unknown. This study aimed to determine the extent to which the 24-h allocation of time to different physical behaviors changes between days working at the office (WAO) and days WFH in office workers during the pandemic. Methods Data were collected on 27 office workers with full-time employment at a Swedish municipal division during the COVID-19 outbreak in May–July 2020. A thigh-worn accelerometer (Axivity) was used to assess physical behavior (sedentary, stand, move) during seven consecutive days. A diary was used to identify periods of work, leisure and sleep. 24-h compositions of sedentary, standing and moving behaviors during work and non-work time were examined using Compositional data analysis (CoDA), and differences between days WAO and days WFH were determined using repeated measures ANOVA. Results Days WFH were associated with more time spent sleeping relative to awake, and the effect size was large (F = 7.4; p = 0.01; ηp2 = 0.22). The increase (34 min) in sleep time during WFH occurred at the expense of a reduction in work and leisure time by 26 min and 7 min, respectively. Sedentary, standing and moving behaviors did not change markedly during days WFH compared to days WAO. Conclusion Days working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden were associated with longer duration of sleep than days working at the office. This behavioral change may be beneficial to health.

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The Home Office: Ergonomic Lessons From the “New Normal”

Cited by 118 publications

References 18 publications

A systematic review on the impacts of Covid‐19 on work: Contributions and a path forward from the perspectives of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work

A systematic review on the impacts of Covid‐19 on work: Contributions and a path forward from the perspectives of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work

An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak in Sweden: effects on 24-h time-use in office workers

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