Michelle Judd, Global Communications Manager @ Ergotron

Like a scene in Caddy Shack, heads are beginning to pop up above the Ergotron cube walls like gophers on the golf course. Employees are beginning to integrate our latest innovation, the WorkFit C-Mod workstation, into their cubes.

It has spurred some interesting discussions. Chuck in finance has been sitting for 30 years in his career. Marge in operations has been sitting since 1974. Do the math. I’ve been sitting 22 years. And you?

We’re calling it a “cubelife uprising” and rightly so. Whether it is 20 years or 20 months, being chained to the chair makes for some great lyrics in a blues song, but may not do much for our overall well being.

So what IS all the buzz about regarding height-adjustable computing?

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ, in ‘gadget’ episode, gadget 131 – Sit, Stand, Work…with the Ergotron WorkFit!, will show you. He does an amazing job, and even addresses a few of his cons about the product. Take a look: 

Workers unite? Maybe not. But what could it look like to build the perfect compensation package for your job? Let’s see. Four weeks vacation, stock options, and oh yeah, maybe a WorkFit? 

I’m just saying.

Thanks, Fr. Robert! Another informative review.

Joel Hazzard – CEO Ergotron

Back in November of 2007 I was interviewed by Beth Ewen of Upsize Magazine.  In addition to the article, Beth also published an editorial that she titled “Install Your Own Products”.  She wrote “That in a nutshell is Joel Hazzard’s answer to my question: How does Ergotron reach its goal of launching 20 significant new products for the mass market every two years?” and she went on to write “I thought his answer would be from the vantage point of 30,000 feet, not from two feet away from the customer”.

At Ergotron, we work very hard to create a culture of innovation because we understand the power of an entire organization waking up in the morning with ideas and solutions to problems versus excuses.  To me it’s pretty fundamental, engage the Ergotron Team to go out and install our products directly into the hands of end users because this process will provide us with not only very meaningful feedback about our products but it will also inspire many new Innovative ideas.    

We often joke within the walls of Ergotron that if you were a young person just graduating from college full of passion to become the next high impact entrepreneur you most likely would not choose Ergonomics as your market focus, yet interestingly enough that is what drives our passion and why it is so important for us to have a culture of innovation.  Our core mission at Ergotron is simple, We are committed to greatly reducing the cost of ergonomics and bringing it to millions of people because we understand that by doing so we will make the lives of millions of people better – A very noble mission and from 2 feet away these are not just words. 

Back to Beth Ewen and her editorial for a minute, she ended her editorial with this question, “How many ideas for new products would you get if you watched customers using what you make?” and my answer to her question is – A LOT when everyone is engaged, in fact we call this our proliferation of innovation.  A perfect example is our recently launched WorkFit C-Mod sit-stand family of workstations for computers which are direct descendants of our Neo-Flex Mobile WorkSpace family.  Sit–stand capability should not just be part of the work flow in hospitals, it should be in every home and office throughout the world because simple and affordable sit-stand workspace solutions will make the lives of millions of people better and it is our job at Ergotron to make this happen.

There is one very important step in our innovation process that I failed to mention previously, which is: we must use our own products so we are the experts and not just words during a sales presentation.  Everyone at Ergotron uses our products every day, at home and in the office.   I happened to be lucky enough to have one of the first WorkFit C-Mod Combo sit-stand workstations installed in my Ergotron HQ office.  OK, I might have used my influence as CEO to make this happen, but from 2 Feet Away, I can tell you this, I’m making my life better every day because of my recently installed WorkFit and I can’t wait to tell everyone all about it!

Check out our short Video – CubeLife 2.0: The Uprising to learn more!  

And to all those past installs out there – THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT FEEDBACK ON OUR PRODUCTS – FROM 2 FEET AWAY

jh

Steve Adams, Senior Web Designer @ Ergotron

Anyone who inhabits a cube all day knows this: it can be pretty uncomfortable. And now new research out of the University of Missouri gives us a scientific explanation for this misery—sitting too much is bad for your health!

During an interview regarding his study, Dr. Marc Hamilton, Associate Professor of Biomedical sciences for UofMO, extols the value of standing periodically (podcast, umsystem.edu) while working in the office. A few statements stand out:

1. For cardiovascular health, “sitting too much is a risk factor.”
2. “The simple act of standing may have great benefit.”
3. “Just standing more … can double your metabolic rate.”

The first question is, why is standing so beneficial?

One reason could be that switching between sitting and standing offers the body movement. And motion—especially when involving large muscle groups like those used in standing—facilitates blood flow to carry oxygen and nutrients to joints and tissues. Besides obvious cardiovascular benefits, this helps us stay energized while working, allowing us to thrive in both body and mind.

Which leads to the next question, how to stand more while working at your computer? Isn’t cube life by definition a sitting endeavor?

Actually, there are several potential solutions. One can simply set-up a workstation on a standing-height worksurface, and then use a taller stool when you need to sit. Or better yet, when creating your workspace, use products that can move with you, whether sitting or standing. It’s the idea behind Ergotron’s sit-stand WorkFit workstation line of products.

The latest exercise recommendations call for 30 minutes a day of sustained activity, a goal that proves easier said than done. So why not, as Dr. Hamilton asserts, “Instead of squeezing extra time into your day … just change the quality of what you’re already doing”? Why not stand while you work?