Holistic Workplace: The Future of Ergonomics

What do forward-thinking organizations like Toyota, Google, Bank of America, Teledyne, and Sony Pictures have in common? They have worked with Joy Boese at E3 Consulting to deliver leading-edge office ergonomic programs. In this Workplace Unplugged Interview, Joy shares insider tips for implementing similar programs.

Joy Boese, President of E3 Consulting, has over 20 years of experience providing cost-effective and innovative solutions to increase employee productivity, health, wellness, and comfort, while improving the organization’s bottom line. Her background is in design, with an emphasis on office interiors, communications, and business. She started E3 Consulting in 1996 and later obtained a Certification in Ergonomics to focus on designing work environments around people rather than just office space and facility requirements.

In 2000, Joy landed her first client, EarthLink Network, designing their future space for office ergonomics and call center environments. Her business was built around ergonomic principles, focusing on office design, ergonomic evaluations, and improving design to reduce workers' compensation and medical costs.

Since its inception, E3’s focus has shifted from ergonomics to wellness and wellbeing. Over the past decade, companies have become more aware of preventative measures. E3 helps companies integrate wellness initiatives, including nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness consulting. This holistic approach involves working with HR, Facilities, Procurement, and IT, using collected data to initiate internal programs.

Joy’s advice for facilities managers is to bring in an ergonomic expert during the planning phase, especially when building, moving, or consolidating office spaces. Incorporating ergonomics early leads to greater success.

Joy's 5 Tips for Facilities Managers

1. 1.

   Select furniture with adjustability.

   • ​Create flexible spaces with furniture that can be independently adjusted. Optimal increments are 24 to 48 inches, but at least 28 to 32 inches to accommodate different heights.
2. 2.

   Be mindful of what is above or below adjustable furniture.

   • ​Ensure that raising or lowering furniture won’t hit overhead bins or be limited by storage underneath.
3. 3.

   Provide ergonomic chair options.

   • ​Offer chairs with variations, such as adjustable cylinders or seat pans, to accommodate different leg lengths.
4. 4.

   Understand long-term technology requirements.

   • ​Coordinate with IT to ensure furniture supports future technology needs, such as multiple monitors or keyboards.
5. 5.

   Communicate with HR.

   • ​HR can provide insights on hiring trends or downsizing, which can inform ergonomic repurposing and equipment allocation.

Vendors Supporting Adjustable Environments

Joy recommends vendors like Steelcase, Haworth, Workrite, and Humanscale for adjustable environments. However, the surge in sit-to-stand desk requests, often driven by doctor’s notes, presents challenges for facilities managers who may lack the budget to accommodate all requests. Requests for sit-to-stand desks have increased by 30-40% in the last five years.

For small to mid-sized companies, Joy suggests less expensive solutions that can be retrofitted onto existing furniture, such as products from Ergotron, Varidesk, and Health Postures.

Unique Experiences and Industry Trends

Joy notes the phenomenon of repeat customers in the entertainment and tech industries, where employees move between companies but continue to seek ergonomic evaluations. She observes an 80/20 rule: 80% of ergonomic issues can be quickly corrected, but 20% of people will always find something to complain about, sometimes for reasons unrelated to ergonomics.

Another challenge is accommodating remote workers. Some companies provide home office equipment, while others consider it the employee’s responsibility. Joy believes that if remote work is part of the job, employers should help create a healthy home office environment, ideally with guidance from an industry expert rather than simply providing a budget.

The Future of Ergonomics

Joy predicts that in five to ten years, technology will enable automated workplace optimization. For example, scanning a room could allow for instant recommendations to improve health and ergonomics. Wearable sensors could collect data on breathing, temperature, BMI, and stress, allowing the environment to adapt in real time. She references smart environments, such as Singapore’s Smart House, where rooms adjust lighting, temperature, and desk height based on user preferences and behavior patterns.

Joy envisions a future where fully automated, smart workplaces optimize employee health and comfort, and she is planning for this direction in her work.