Beyond Ergonomics: Wellness… and the Economics of it all
How many of you:
Sit in a car on the way to work?
Sat down at your desk and will sit nearly all day?
Are sitting right now?
Will sit on your drive home tonight? … and …
Will plop down on the couch to catch up on some TV or prop yourselves in front of the computer to surf the ‘net tonight?
and the cascade of health ills and everyday malaise that come from what scientists such as myself have named
.”James A Levine, MD, PHD
Obesity and NEAT researcher
Author: Move a Little, Lose a Lot
“Today, our bodies are breaking down fromdepression,
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer,
sitting disease
Sedentary jobs have increased
83% since 1950
Sitting: A silent killerStatistics claim:
N. Americans spend nearly 77% of their
waking hours just sitting:
Putting people at risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions
killing more than 300,000 Americans annually and
… is the third leading cause of death in the United States
Healthmad.com Long Periods of Sitting Can be Harmful 08/22/09
“…any kind of inactivity
such as being seated
at ones desk
for long periods of time
has the potential of
being a killer…”
When muscles are immobile, key fat-burning enzymes responsible for breaking down triglycerides (a type of fat) simply start switching off
• Sit for a full day and those fat burners plummet by 50 percent
• Slowing circulation and caloric burn
Every two hours spent just sitting reduces blood flow and lowers blood sugar, increasing the risk of:
• Obesity, diabetes and heart disease - enzymes that keep blood fats in check are inactive
• Depression, fatigue and reduced focus - with less blood flow, fewer feel-good hormones circulate to your brain
Dr. James Levine, NEAT researcherMayo Clinic
Physiological ConsequencesWhen you sit
for an extended period of time,
your body starts to
shut down at the metabolic level
Marc Hamilton,Associate Professor -Biomedical Sciences,
University of Missouri
“When you sit all day, your hip flexors and hamstrings shorten and tighten, while the muscles that support your spine become weak and stiff”
Douglas Lentz, Director of Fitness and Wellness
Summit Health
“We’ve become so sedentary that 30 minutes a day at the gym may not do enough to counteract the detrimental effects of eight, nine, or 10 hours of sitting”
Genevieve Healy, Ph.D., Cancer Prevention Research Centre University of Queensland in Australia
Canadian researchers drew an even more succinct conclusion: The longer you spend sitting each day, the more likely you are to die an early death—no matter how fit you are.
Physiological Consequences data compiled from Women’s Health: Your Body's Biggest Enemy The dangers of living a sedentary life: Learn how to ward off the nasty effects of a new epidemic called Sitting Disease by Selene Yeager
Physiological Consequences
… even if you
exercise, you’re
not immune.
…and it is estimated
this costs our economy
more than
$153 billion a year
in lost productivity from
increased sick days.Gallup Healthways Well-being Index; 109,000 surveyed – Jan-Oct, 2011
6 out of 7 U.S. workers
are fighting obesity
and/or otherchronic health problems
-Gallup
American Cancer Society study…
If you’re an ACTIVE individual:
Women: 37% more likely to die
Men: 17% more likely to die
If you’re an INACTIVE individual:
Women: 94% more likely to die
Men: 48% more likely to die
Sitting is a silent killer
2000 2007
Sitting Disease… validation2010 2011
Wellness programs
commonly offer “smoking
cessation” as a key
offering.
With this information,
we must consider the
significant health risks
associated with sedentary
work environments
FOX 5 Medical Report: Research Shows Sitting Is Just As Bad As SmokingJune 23, 2011
“Repeated studies support the relationship
between modifiable risk factors and resulting
injury or death, suggesting that 75% of all
illness and premature death in
the U.S. could be avoided or
made less severe through
prevention efforts.” – PrimeSource
…companies save $3 to $6 for every $1
they invest in wellness
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“20% of Your Work Force is Spending80% of Your Health Care Dollars”
A Pittsburgh-based health insurer's wellness plan returned $1.65 for every dollar spent…… Employee wellness programs yield an incredible return on investment.
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Feb08
In a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute study,
less than 40% of those [surveyed] who are eligible to
participate, are enrolling in company-sponsored wellness programs
Even though health and wellness initiatives are encouraged by the employer,
the choice to participate is controlled by the employee
Our message:‘Re-allocate’
wellness dollars
Control what you CAN control:
Wellness at the workspace
at the point-of-need
COMPANY PROFILE ERGONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY* CALCULATOR
# Knowledge Workers (intensive computing)
2,500 12%
Average Salary $50,000 50.4
126,000
KNOWLEDGE WORKER PROFILE Days to payback: 16
Avg. employee weight (lbs) 170 $14,027,500
Recommended # hours spent standing 4
Average hours spent at computer/desk 7
Additional caloric burn due to standing -PER DAY
156 COSTS FOR PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
Additional Calories per Year for Company 93,840,000 $3,530
Weight Equivalent per Year for Company 26,811 $906,760* 1 lb. body fat lost per 3500 calories burned $15,417
WORKFIT MSRP $7,902,708
WorkFit-S $389
INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENTS
Average employee weight (lbs) 170
Hours in office per day 7 http://www.ecu.edu/picostcalc/
Medical Care
Workers Comp Claims
The Compendium of Physical Activities can be found here
INDIVIDUAL CALORIC BURN RATES Assumptions: 240 work days/year; 48 work weeks/year
Lost Productivity
East Carolina University researchers developed a tool to provide an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business. The tool was based on data from a number of peer-reviewed publications from CDC, US Dept of Health and Human Services, and a number of other researchers as detailed in:
Productivity gain for 1 employee extra DAYS per YEAR
Productivity gain for total knowledge workers extra DAYS per YEAR
Potential productivity increase due to ergonomic comfort(enter any value between 10 and 30)
Annual net productivity gain:
What physical inactivity is costing your organizationPER PERSON on average
Explanation: A Washington State analysis of case studies related to office ergonomics showed the median productivity increase following an ergonomic intervention was 12% . Other studies suggest that employees who are provided with well-designed ergonomic furniture and are trained to use it see an average 18% increase in productivity.*
Workspace Wellness Analysis for: Knowledge
WorkersUNITE
Consider common comparative costs
$500 – 600 For new worksurface and additional brackets$400 – 800 Ergonomic chairs $100 – 300 Keyboard trays and footrests$$$$ Time and expense to resource standard builds/rebuilds
Work Well. Work Happy. WorkFit.
The WorkFit-S by Ergotron $379-389
$899
Work Well. Work Happy. WorkFit.
The WorkFit-C by Ergotron
Introducing! WorkFit-D
Floor Mat Keyboard Tray LX Arm
Accessories
Just Launched!
WorkFit-A
Hinged Bow
Large Worksurface
Tablet/Document Holder
Large Keyboard Tray
WorkFit accessories that Fit the work
“Yesterday, I finished my morning workouts and classes, showered, and relished the thought of a whole day in
my office to get work done. At 6 pm….I realized the only time I had sat down all day was in my car! I am
personally burning about 300-500 extra calories per day…the equivalent of my
afternoon outdoor walk. I absolutely LOVE my new workstation more than I
ever thought would!” - Chris Freytag, Fitness Expert and Author
“Prior to using the WorkFit, I found that on my days in the office I always had a challenge to getting to my
required burned calories per day. I have been involved in a health improvement program and wear an activity
monitor that tracks my daily calories burned. Once I started using the WorkFit, I noticed
that my calories burned per day went up by about 400 calories!
- Clare H, Salesperson, major PC company
What will YOUR WorkFit number be?305. Maybe 442. Could it be as much as 522?
After using WorkFit-S in their normal job:
HealthPartners “Take a Stand” Project
Increased caloric-burn, blood flow and metabolic rate
Improved energy, focus and productivity
Instantaneous, tool-free positioning
Personalized computing; Unsurpassed ergonomic comfort
Improvement in health and happiness overall
For Computer Users
More manageable healthcare premiums
Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism
Re-allocation of wellness dollars – take control
Keep employees happy and healthy
Influence Productivity Increases
For HR/Risk Management and Company Cost Savings
IT deployment friendly
Facilities friendly
Safe and neat routing of cables
Flexible, open-architecture design
For IT and Facilities Staff
The benefits to many… are many!
COMPANY PROFILE ERGONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY* CALCULATOR
# Knowledge Workers (intensive computing)
1,000 12%
Average Salary $50,000 50.4
50,400
KNOWLEDGE WORKER PROFILE Days to payback: 16
Avg. employee weight (lbs) 170 $5,611,000
Recommended # hours spent standing 4
Average hours spent at computer/desk 7
Additional caloric burn due to standing -PER DAY
156 COSTS FOR PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
Additional Calories per Year for Company 37,536,000 $3,530
Weight Equivalent per Year for Company 10,725 $362,704* 1 lb. body fat lost per 3500 calories burned $6,167
WORKFIT MSRP $3,161,083
WorkFit-S $389
INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENTS
Average employee weight (lbs) 170
Hours in office per day 7 http://www.ecu.edu/picostcalc/
Productivity gain for 1 employee extra DAYS per YEAR
Productivity gain for total knowledge workers extra DAYS per YEAR
Potential productivity increase due to ergonomic comfort(enter any value between 10 and 30)
Annual net productivity gain:
What physical inactivity is costing your organizationPER PERSON on average
Explanation: A Washington State analysis of case studies related to office ergonomics showed the median productivity increase following an ergonomic intervention was 12% . Other studies suggest that employees who are provided with well-designed ergonomic furniture and are trained to use it see an average 18% increase in productivity.*
Medical Care
Workers Comp Claims
The Compendium of Physical Activities can be found here
INDIVIDUAL CALORIC BURN RATES Assumptions: 240 work days/year; 48 work weeks/year
Lost Productivity
East Carolina University researchers developed a tool to provide an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business. The tool was based on data from a number of peer-reviewed publications from CDC, US Dept of Health and Human Services, and a number of other researchers as detailed in:
Workspace Wellness Analysis for: Knowledge
WorkersUNITE
Consider integrating “wellness at the workspace” as an integral part of your wellness and employee safety initiatives.
Maintain your commitment to employee health and safety by
eliminating the dangerous, long periods of sitting that traditional
workspaces induce
Minimize absenteeism, presenteeism and keep “lost time at work” numbers at bay.
Independent studies consistently reveal: WorkFit users are
happier, more energized and feel increasingly healthier!
Foster a “preventative” versus a “prescriptive” wellness
methodology to ward off potential health risks
Integrate “state-of-the-art”, healthy and active work environments
to attract new talent and meet “talent sustainability” goals
To augment your transition to a sit-stand work environment, we offer a number of
complementary tools and services like on-site or web-based workspace coaching, interactive
Calorie-burn and Productivity calculators, and customizable Workspace Assessments.
Healthy Environments. Healthy People. That’s WorkFit.
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
Corporate office
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
Healthcare
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
Call Center / Dispatch / Customer Service
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
Hospitality Business Centers
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
Government / Education
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
SOHO – Small Office / Home Office
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
W h e r e t h e r e ’ s a d i s p l a y …
In the Newsroom!
T h e r e ’ s o p p o r t u n i t y !
Thank you!
Taking a stand
It’s about taking charge of your life. Your health. To reclaim your right to move.
If you sit trapped at a computer and work long hours your body is craving it. Movement. Restoration. Caloric burn.
And that’s just a start. What are you waiting for?