Why your start-up office must have proper office chairs

No office is complete without desks and chairs. But does it really matter what sort of furniture you get, particularly if you’re starting out in business and money’s too tight to mention? As you’re setting up your own company, every penny counts. Overspend on the office fit-out and you could see your cashflow depleted and your business dragged down before it’s even got off the ground. Nobody wants that.

However, when it comes to savvy financial management for your new venture, it’s easy to confuse being careful with the budget and cutting corners. While some items can be bought cheaply, other things should never be skimped on. Office chairs most definitely fall into the latter category. Why?

Here are 4 compelling arguments in favour of ergonomic office chairs.

  1. Team Productivity

Anyone who has experience of sitting in an office chair for long periods of time, whether their job involves manning the phone or working with computers, will know how hugely important it is to be comfortable. In fact, you could say that comfort is an essential ingredient in creating a productive working environment.

 

With an ergonomically designed chair that can be adjusted to each individual body’s needs and offers plenty of back support, there’s no need to keep shifting position in an effort to get comfy, alleviate physical unease, aches and pains. Instead of the constant distraction of worrying about the chair you’re sitting on, you and your colleagues can focus fully on getting your new business off to a flying start.

  1. Employee Health

You may think a chair is just a chair, but you’d be sorely mistaken. With many office workers spending 8-10 hours every day sitting down, maintaining the correct posture is key. While an uncomfortable chair may not cause any health issues in the short term, over time misalignments in body posture can build up, leading to muscle strains and back pain, which can become chronic.

According to government figures, work-related musculoskeletal disorders account for a third of all working days lost to work-related ill health. Sitting in an awkward, tiring or downright harmful position for hours every day is a significant factor. What’s more, a recent report has identified back pain as a major health concern for office workers, likely to affect a staggering 80% of UK adults during their lifetime. The impact this has on business is considerable, with start-ups and SMEs being most vulnerable.

  1. Company Culture

If you want to be seen as a caring company, investing in proper office chairs is a great way to show it. Everyone in the team wants to feel comfortable while they work, and we all want our health and wellbeing to be taken seriously in the workplace. Show your appreciation to your co-workers by making the health of your workforce a top priority.

 

A lot has been written about the importance of company culture over the last few years. It’s the glue that holds the workforce together, reinforces positive company values and unlocks engagement and productivity. Investing in ergonomic office chairs for your fledgling business is part of your commitment towards creating a happy, successful work environment in which your company has the best possible chance to thrive.

  1. Business Branding

Creating the right brand identity for your new venture is a big topic, but it all starts with the outward appearance of your business. If you routinely welcome clients to the premises, your office fit-out and the general ‘vibe’ in the office will be a big part of the image you portray. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression and people do judge a book by its cover, as they say.

 

While there may be no need to get an interior designer involved to style the office just yet, it is important to come across as a professional business, with an office space that lives up to the expectations you have built up with your clients.

Cheap and nasty office furniture doesn’t set the right tone. A much better idea would be to take the time to research office furniture, investing in quality chairs, desks and meeting room facilities that look professional and respectable, and are comfortable to use. Your furniture conveys your values.

 

Photo Credits: Unsplash, eOffice

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