To Sit, or to Stand – Modern Working Methods Examined

Sitting at a desk for hours on end has never been considered conducive to healthy working, but what is the alternative?

Well according to CIS Products, UK employees could benefit from standing desks and anti-fatigue mats.

Working days are getting longer and breaks are getting shorter. Sitting down for hours without much movement can have a negative effect on health. It can lead to cardiovascular issues as well as diabetes. A British study undertaken in 1953 revealed that sitting continuously could contribute to health problems and more recent research from 2011 demonstrated that a 112 per cent increase resulted in the risk of diabetes and a 147 per cent increase in cardiovascular events were apparent between the shortest and longest sedentary periods.

So is it time for employers to start considering alternatives? In Scandinavia, sit-stand desks are commonplace, with more than 90 per cent of PC-using office personnel making use of them. The benefits are said to be manifold.

The Benefits of Sit-Stand Desks

Sit-stand desks offer flexibility. Employees can choose their preferred working posture depending on how they are feeling at the time. They can divide their working hours between sitting and standing, without risking injury or ill health through poor posture because their PC and documents are equally and perfectly accessible however they decide to work.

The good thing about sit-stand desks is that they do not cover any more of any area than regular desks. They provide employers with the opportunity to promote healthier working practices, and a healthier workforce means reduced sickness absence and boosted productivity.

Employers can choose from electric, gas lift or manual crank desks depending on budget and preference.

Employee Sit-Stand Education

It should be considered that standing for long periods of time is probably just as unhealthy as sitting and could lead to issues such as back, neck and hip pain as well as swollen legs and vein problems due to pressures on the circulatory system. A balance is ideal, and this should be promoted through employee education.

Employees should therefore be advised to vary their sitting and standing periods as well as taking regular breaks away from their workstations and using a standing desk mat.

Standing Desk Mats

Standing desk mats have built-in anti-fatigue properties. They are made from high-density foam designed to support and cushion the user and encourage regular movement of the feet. Such movement helps activate the pumping of the veins which in turn boosts blood flow and alleviates the pain normally associated with standing for long periods.

If you are considering ways of boosting employee health and comfort, it’s well worth having a look at sit-stand desks.

Beware the Employee Private Admin Cyber Security Risk

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, cyber security is a major issue for any business of any size, and this includes even the smallest, home-run operations.

It is a much discussed fact that one of the greatest threats to data security is the human factor, rather than technology. Whilst you may invest heavily in firewalls and virus protection, cyber-attacks so often come down to human error.

It is said that employees using company networks to carry out private admin is one of the most significant risks, and employers need to realise just how serious this risk could be.

82 Per Cent of Employees Undertake Life Admin in Work Time

We spend a great deal of time at work without a doubt, so it stands to reason that at some point we are going to have a need to undertake some form of personal task. ‘Life admin’ as it’s referred to is a necessity, and if we’re at work for the majority of our day, then some of that admin time is going to occur within working hours. But it’s the making use of company technology to carry out this admin that’s the issue.

Research by Altodigital reveals that 82 per cent of full time UK employees spend a certain amount of time carrying out personal admin tasks whilst at work, and that more time is spent on these tasks during work time than within lunch breaks.

The most common personal tasks include organising finances, booking health and beauty appointments, dealing with bills, and seeking alternative employment. Whilst some of these tasks may seem acceptable and necessary, the security risks that go with them really must be considered. The worrying thing is, four in ten of those questioned for the survey did not feel there were any security risks related to inputting their personal data into work networks, whether via company computers or their own devices.

Cyber Risks Very Real

The truth is, however, that there ARE numerous cyber risks. Storing passwords, credit card details and banking logins in a web browser or cache could prove exceptionally precarious. Personal data stored in emails is also very risky. Company networks are generally accessible by more than one user, offering simple in-roads. Even sending documents to unsecured network printers is potentially risky, particularly if the documents contain sensitive information. The same goes for photocopier hard drives.

As a business owner you’re going to have enough on your plate with the upcoming GDPR legislation kicking in. Allowing employee life admin tasks to be undertaken on company networks is going to raise even further problems because as soon as personal data is entered and stored on a company system, the company becomes immediately responsible for the security of that data.

Jas Sura, Security team lead at Altodigital says, “Although it may seem like simply ordering a new outfit for the weekend and quickly transferring some money to a friend is a quick and easy task, it may introduce problems further down the line. Site login and bank details may be stored automatically onto your device, meaning that if other staff members have access to it, or you leave your laptop unlocked while you are away from your desk, it could be a confidentiality disaster waiting to happen. 

“The explosion in growth of cyber hacking, in both capability and frequency, has caught short businesses of all sizes because it is so easy to do at a basic level. Hacking methods are becoming more and more sophisticated at times capable of fooling more tech-savvy individuals.

“Our recent research revealed that 18% of UK SMEs have been hacked in the last 12 months, with sophisticated email phishing the most common form of hacking. As technology progresses, it’s really important that businesses make steps towards improving their business security – whether that be regularly changing passwords to be more secure, using encryption, having a managed firewall, or making regular backups!”

Take Advice, Set Policies

Businesses really should be taking serious steps to ensure the security of their data, and consideration towards the allowance of personal admin really must factor. Consult with your IT security consultants and legal advisers and put a policy in place so that you are protected.

Charity Urging Businesses to Increase Employment for those with Learning Disabilities

Registered charity Mencap is trying to encourage employers to make use of apprenticeships to boost levels of employment for potential employees with learning disabilities.

Mencap says that research from the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows that fewer than 6 per cent of adults with a recognised learning disability are in paid employment, and that people with these disabilities are up against various barriers when seeking work. These barriers include complex application forms; negative attitudes from employers and rigid interview processes that don’t allow any flexibility.

Lack of Training for Learning Disabilities Apprentices

Even when people with learning disabilities do make it into employment, they regularly face a lack of training and onward opportunities, according to Mencap.

Last year the Government announced a reduction of the minimum requirements for maths and English standards to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to pursue certain apprenticeships.

According to Mencap, “By ensuring people with a learning disability are able to access apprenticeships, it will provide a route into work better suited to people with a learning disability where they can demonstrate their skills”.

According to Government data, during the period 2014-2015, fewer than 1 per cent of apprentices declared a moderate learning disability.

Plans set to Ease the Route in Apprentices with Learning Disabilities

Chief executive of Mencap Jan Tregelles, said: “The introduction of these plans are a welcome recognition from Government that people with a learning disability cannot be left behind when accessing such a vital and valuable route into work as an apprenticeship.

“Lowering the Maths and English requirement for people with a learning disability on apprenticeships could allow a whole new generation to experience the pride, joy and independence that employment can offer – something that just 5.8% of people with a learning disability currently do.”

Furthermore, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Gauke, added: “People with a learning disability deserve the same opportunities that others have in every aspect of their lives, including in the workplace. Almost 600,000 disabled people have entered work in the last three years, and we must build on this progress.”

Apprenticeships should act as a valuable route into employment for those with learning disabilities, who have an incredible amount to offer in many ways.

For more information about taking on an apprentice, speak to your local bookkeepers.