Can active workstations make a difference in promoting a healthier lifestyle? We think so! That’s why we are supporting the Minnesota American Diabetes Association’s efforts throughout the year. Watch for Ergotron at many of the American Diabetes Association events, including the May 5th Gala where sit-stand hopefuls can bid on several Ergotron WorkFit workstations. 

Get involved with the Stop Diabetes campaign or visit Research.juststand.org to learn about the healthy benefits of standing more.

Heather Rouillard, Global eMarketing Manager @ Ergotron

I had the pleasure of sitting down (we should have been standing!) with Grant Henriksen, Sales Associate and Customer Events, here at Ergotron. Grant was recently hired to travel around the country to customer events, trade-shows, reseller events, distributors, and end users with the Traveling Ergotron Solutions Showroom (T.E.S.S.). After a few months on the road, Grant was able to recap what his new life has been like, and how TESS is evolving the Ergotron sales strategy.

Heather: How have things been going so far?

Grant: Outstanding. The response has been awesome from all of our visits. It’s great to get our product out in front of our customer and partners. Everyone is having a great time.

H: What is some specific feedback you have heard from resellers and other sales reps that sell Ergotron product?

G: The events are great. They are happy to be a part of any TESS event. They get to check out the newest product. And, most importantly, they get to touch and feel the product that they have seen in our videos and our website, with the ability to get their hands on the product. That’s exactly what TESS is all about. When they get to see close up, it really sells itself.

H: The HIMSS show was very different for us this year. Can you tell us how that came to fruition?

G: It was neat. It was a show within a show, since we actually brought TESS into our booth in Las Vegas. Not only did attendees get to see Ergotron product at our booth, but they also got firsthand look at what TESS is like on the road. They got a sneak peek of what TESS could bring to them, literally, in the near future.

H: What is in the near future for you and TESS?

G: There is a lot of ground slated to be covered in the next few months. 10 states in the next 60 days.

H: What’s your favorite part about this whole experience?

G: The people I get to meet. The stories they tell me about how much they enjoy Ergotron and our product(s). And, how excited they are to have something like TESS come to them. It’s a unique opportunity that only a company like Ergotron will, and has, done.

We know a lot of you are wanting TESS to come to you in the near future. Check out the up-to-date schedule of cities online. If your city is listed and you would like a visit, or if it’s not listed and you would still like a visit -  please email TESS@ergotron.com. I wish Grant safe travels and even more wonderful customer visits!

Daisy McCarty is the long-time office furniture blogger for San Diego based Cubicles Office Environments. She regularly covers topics ranging from office furniture news, design, and products, to refurbishing and sustainability in her blog. We are happy to have her connect with you on this topic.

There’s no shortage of sound medical research pointing to the health risks of prolonged sitting. You don’t have to look in a 360⁰ mirror to know that being an “office chair potato” can wreak havoc on the human body. Sit-to-stand workstations are the clear choice for a more ergonomic work experience. They should be the first option employers, designers, and facility managers consider rather than a novelty item that only a privileged few get to experience.

However, adjustable height worksurfaces add a new, vertical dimension to office design planning. They introduce a whole new array of questions about how to create a truly effective work environment. This doesn’t mean you should view sit-to-stand desks and worktables as obstacles in the office landscape. Instead, it’s time to spark off some discussion about how to integrate these modern work surfaces into the average open office plan. Let’s get started!

Can I Get Some Privacy Here?

Many top-of-the-line cubicles allow some customization of the worksurface height based on employee height. However, that’s a set it and forget it feature. Truly adjustable worksurfaces that are attached to a cubicle panel are few and far between. Many of the best sit-to-stand worktables and desks are designed to be freestanding. They aren’t meant to serve as a support structure for a panel. This doesn’t mean that cubicle panels can’t be incorporated into the office layout. Panel wall heights may actually need to increase to provide consistent acoustic shielding and reduce interruptions for workers whether they are sitting or standing.

However, panels may no longer be directly linked to the worksurface. Instead, you might start seeing more standalone panels with wide bases for stability. Or, panels with brackets attached to walls could make a comeback. With today’s blended office environments that feature both collaborative and private workspaces, this layout might be very beneficial. The individual workstations could line the perimeter of the office by the coveted window spots where employees can enjoy plenty of natural light. The central area of the room could be reserved for lounge style furnishings and “pods” for group work.

Where Should You Stow Stuff?

To date, most studies of repetitive motion injuries in cubicle workers assume that all movements are done from a seated position. This includes bending, twisting, and reaching to retrieve objects and files. When employees start standing at work, this is all going to change. They will have more mobility and a greater reach. It won’t seem like a huge chore for workers to heave themselves out of an office chair and walk across the room to a filing cabinet – they’ll already be standing up. At the same time, bending over from a standing position or squatting down to reach files in the very bottom drawer of a credenza may not be very comfortable.

Some storage options, such as overhead bins placed directly above the main worksurface may no longer be useful. In contrast, mobile storage pedestals may be a very popular addition (and they can be readily shared between two or more workers). Spine based storage solutions that place file drawers at about waist level could also address the new, variable height of work positions.

Put on Your Thinking Cap…

These are only a few factors to consider in designing a workspace that incorporates sit-to-stand desks and tables. You will also need to brainstorm about these topics:

• Streamlined cord management
• Adjustable monitor arms, keyboard trays and task lighting
• Where to put peripherals such as printers
• Whether employees need more or less square footage in your new layout
• If bridges and returns are still needed to provide adequate surface area, or if they can be replaced with other office furniture that isn’t attached to the main worksurface.
• Anti-fatigue flooring that still allows desk chairs to roll freely

There are no limits to the heights we can reach as we re-imagine the modern workplace! Share your ideas in the comments.