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Press Release
September 2007
Is your workplace making you sick?
6th September 2007 – Staff productivity and welfare go hand-in-hand but what role does office equipment play in this equation? With the vast majority of today’s office workers being stuck at their desk and glued to a computer screen, the monitor is a vital part of desktop ergonomics – and one that’s often overlooked.
In Spring of this year, ViewSonic commissioned a piece of independent research in the UK which examined healthy office working practices. We wanted to understand more fully the physical impact that computer monitors have on office workers, if staff were being looked after properly and who is most at risk within the office. The study also looked at the attitudes of employers and the results were quite alarming: three quarters of UK office workers suffer from chronic health issues like eye fatigue (77%), backache (71%) and headaches (67%).
The ViewSonic @Work @Risk Report revealed that millions of British office workers are suffering chronic poor ‘desk health’. The survey was conducted by market research specialists and involved 1,500 UK office workers and showed a clear link between poor ergonomics knowledge and an increase in symptoms such as eye fatigue, headaches and backache.
The study showed that 46% of office workers spend six or more hours in front of their computer screens everyday and the majority of these are not scheduling appropriate breaks according to ergonomic guidelines.
Lack of awareness
Although 75% of office workers say that ergonomic issues are important to them, only a fifth have ever complained to their manager and asked for a better desk, chair, phone or screen, despite the high incidence of health issues. Indeed, a third admit not knowing where to start improving their desktop environment.
The lack of knowledge is compounded by low levels of personal initiative; only 15% have tried to investigate best desktop policy or sought professional help, or spoken to friends or colleagues for ergonomic advice.
Young most at risk
Alarmingly, it is the youngest office workers that are most at risk. 16-24-year-olds who work the longest ‘screen hours’ are least likely to be scheduling appropriate breaks. They are one-and-a-half times more likely to suffer headaches (76%) than those aged over 55 (48%).
Good equipment has an important part to play as well. Users of CRT monitors were found to be twice as likely to have frequent headaches than users of widescreen LCDs. Indeed, 42% of widescreen users say they never get a headache.
Duty of care ignored
There may be trouble ahead for employers who do not promote sound ergonomics practice; 55% of young employees (16-24-year-olds) report that excessive workloads or peer/management pressure prevents them from scheduling more frequent breaks and are consequently developing poor work habits.
Almost half of workers say they’ve been offered no advice on the best desktop layout or ergonomics best practice in the last 12 months. More than two thirds (69%) say they would consider future legal action if they should develop a long-term illness or disability induced by their office environment.
Shocking results
The research clearly highlights that not only are we a workforce plagued by chronic ill-health, but that we lack the will to change at both an individual and corporate level. Employers could eliminate these issues instantly for many staff by promoting better desktop ergonomics. Sadly, the issue is not on the board’s agenda, despite the potential for huge productivity gains.
Not only are employers ignoring the clear productivity benefits of better IT equipment and ergonomics, they are also ignoring their duty of care responsibility and may be opening themselves up to serious legal liabilities in the future. Both employers and employees have to change this casual attitude – companies can do a lot more to instil better working practices but armed with even a little more knowledge, employees can look after themselves a lot more effectively too.
Emil Reisser-Weston, ergonomist from e-OfficeSafey.com commented: “It is vital that computer users take regular micro-breaks every hour. Just standing up and having a quick stretch will in fact increase productivity and not lessen it. It is all about creating a culture within the organisation where this sort of behaviour is approved.”
Educational resource
For more information on the research findings visit ViewSonic’s educational resource, www.monitorvictims.com, which offers a range of self-help ergonomic tools and educational resources.
About ViewSonic:
ViewSonic Corp., a worldwide leader in display products, offers users comprehensive display solutions for today’s business, education and consumer electronics markets. The company’s products have won more than 2,000 awards globally from independent publications and organizations. ViewSonic. See the Difference®
Headquartered in Walnut, Calif., ViewSonic was founded in 1987 and files public reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For further information contact:
Ian Pearson
ChemistryTM
Shearwater House, 20-21
The Green, Richmond
Surrey TW9 1PX
T: + 44 (0) 20 8439 8200
F: + 44 (0) 20 8439 8201
E: ipearson@chemistrytm.com
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including all statements relating to the expectations of ViewSonic products, business opportunities or financial performance. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. ViewSonic undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Investors are advised to read ViewSonic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, particularly the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
Trademark footnote: All corporate names and trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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