Member Article

A combination of sitting and standing at work can boost your health

To sit or to stand?

Godfrey Syrett reports on how a combination of sitting and standing in the workplace can boost your health.

One of the latest trends to be sweeping the workplace is the sit-stand desk, amidst claims that ‘sitting is the new smoking’.

Experts at Godfrey Syrett’s head office in Killingworth predict we will be seeing a lot more standing desks in the workplace in 2017, following research which provides compelling evidence that prolonged periods of sitting is bad for your health.

An expert statement published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, states that UK office workers currently spend an average of 65% - 75% of their working day, an estimated 5-6 hours sitting.

According to Get Britain Standing, spending extended periods of time in a sedentary sitting position has been shown to raise the risk of developing heart problems, cancer and diabetes, and dramatically slow down metabolism.

A research paper co-commissioned by Public Health England concludes that office workers should spend a minimum of two hours on their feet at work, four hours being the ideal number, to help avoid the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

Mark Richards, design manager at Godfrey Syrett said: “What this research tells us is that balance in the workplace is key. Having the option to either sit or stand, and being able to easily switch between these two positions, is the route to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the office. Having access to height-adjustable desking, which can be seamlessly integrated into the office environment allows employees to work at a height that suits their varying needs.

Across the UK, various companies are adopting sit-stand desking and making a conscious investment in the wellbeing of their employees. This has resulted in a significant increase in demand for our height-adjustable products.“

Godfrey Syrett is a North East furniture manufacturer with its own team of in-house designers, which specialise in innovative furniture design for the modern workplace.

In response to market demand, the firm has launched a new generation of height adjustable desks and bench systems for 2017. The new range will be made at its two manufacturing sites in Durham & North Tyneside where it employs over 230 staff.

According to Godfrey Syrett, other workplace trends to watch out for in 2017 include the domestification of the office, with the use of wooden furniture legs to give a more homely feel to office furniture, integrated electrics in soft seating to allow people to sit down and plug in, and muted tones on fabrics to create a welcoming work environment, as the lines between domestic and contract furniture continue to blur.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rebecca Taylor PR .