Comfort And Joy – Why Getting The Right Office Chair Is Crucial

By: Mark Bartley Click author's name for more of his/her articles

If you want to get the most out of people, the best service, the best attitude, the best performance, that 'going the extra mile' because they care attitude, then you need to treat people right. There's no great mystery behind the concept. Just take a look at some of the world's most successful organisations – Google, for example has hoards of would-be employees queuing up to play office basketball and ride around on scooters - to be part of the team. Same goes for Microsoft, though in fact Microsoft only managed to come in at 21 (up from 47 the previous year) on the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2009 list. For the record, the winners were the Lytham St Anne's-based jewellery chain Beaverbrooks, with Financial Services company Edward Jones in second and Pannone LLP, a legal practice, in third.

Of course, there are numerous criteria that one needs to consider when trying to evaluate 'best'. What's interesting though is that nowhere in any of the Times research was there any direct reference to money. It seems strange doesn't it? Almost counter-intuitive that something as universally motivational, something so widely discussed, contentious, fought over; an issue that for many people seems to overshadow a great part of their working lives was nowhere to be seen. 85% of Beaverbrook's staff don't even believe that profit is the only thing driving the company.

The table of 'best' companies looked at a whole variety of other aspects to working life though – at how employees feel about the head of the company and its senior managers. It also investigated to what extent staff feel they are stretched and challenged by their job. How much companies are thought by their staff to put back into society in general and the local community in particular is looked at as are the feelings about the company people work for as opposed to the people they work with. Last but certainly not least, how staff feel about stress, pressure and the balance between their work and home duties.

85% of Beaverbrook's staff (the highest percentage in the report) said they feel that managers care about them as individuals and clearly a contented workforce contributes to overall company quality. Happy, well looked after staff working in an agreeable environment are far more productive (and profitable) in the long run than a demoralised staff. Customer service improves accordingly and retention rates increase. Not only can you make more money with a satisfied staff driving ever larger ranks of satisfied customers but you can save money too on recruitment, induction, training costs.

You ARE appreciated and we'll do all we can to make the experience as agreeable as possible' or does it say, 'look what we managed to pick up cheaply at the local used office furniture supplier, if you don't like it tough'?

Take the good old office chair, for example. Getting the right office chair isn't simply crucial. It's absolutely crucial. Is everyone comfortable, seated ergonomically, safely? As well as a financial responsibility to investors and shareholders you have a health and safety responsibility to your staff too, their health and wellbeing (back problems, RSS issues and the rest) in the office is largely down to the company. Not only are there productivity benefits to be won there are potentially damaging and distracting legal issues that can be successfully headed off at the same time. The humble office chair can have far reaching effects. Some view it as a status symbol, while others just want a comfortable, adjustable place to sit. A wobbly, damaged, uncomfortable chair can prove much more than just a minor irritation. Spend office furniture budgets wisely and keep your staff happy, comfortable and focussed on the job.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Stylish, functional furniture and comfortable office chairs are important in getting the best from staff and employees. Here Mark Bartley looks into some considerations and viewpoints that can help employers decide where best to spend their office furniture budgets.