MUSCATINE, IA--(Marketwire - October 2, 2008) - The hallways, lunchrooms... and yes... even
the water cooler is buzzing with political chatter. People in offices
nationwide are talking about energy plans. Healthcare reform. Taxes. The
war in Iraq. These issues, not to mention the fact the '08 election is only
weeks away, have kept U.S. workers from coast to coast debating who will
take the next seat in the Oval Office and solve our country's woes -- John
McCain or Barack Obama.
The discussion is lively, but... only temporary. When all is said and done,
and the votes have been counted, another more serious debate will continue
in the U.S. workplace -- one that centers on pressing matters of national
comfort -- office seating.
The burning question isn't necessarily who has the best view or the biggest
office space. It's all about who has the most comfortable chair.
What is it about chairs?
Case in point: On one online message board that touts itself as the "water
cooler conversation without leaving your desk," EA Forum's Business Beat, a
thread on office politics and furniture included close to 200 messages.
Many of these posts focused on the humble... or not-so-humble... office
chair.
"What is it about chairs?" one poster laments, explaining that when her
particular office was undergoing renovations, company decision-makers
ordered and assigned furniture based on a task-based flow chart and gave
all managers executive chairs.
"I didn't want an executive chair," the poster recalls. "I spend far too
much time on a computer. An executive chair would have destroyed my back.
So, I, quite reasonably, asked for a task chair. You would have thought I
had asked for a Jacuzzi."
The author of the message-board post wound up ordering a more suitable
chair for her needs from the same design line as the others to ensure it
matched. She endured eye rolls and being called a "primadonna" from upper
management for not taking the assigned executive chair. But it didn't
bother her. She liked the chair she ordered. So did three other managers,
who asked for an exchange. It was a chair revolt.
Every Vote Counts
Because the office chair holds such a position of influence in the American
workplace, many offices have taken the politics of chair selection to a new
democratic level -- voting. And not just any voting. We're talking
hands-on, try-it-before-you-buy-it voting.
"Many companies have begun to institute a democratic chair selection
process that gives workers a voice in office seating," notes Fred Colony,
vice president of casegoods and seating for The HON Company, a leading
designer and manufacturer of office furniture. "They have employees test
out different sample chairs. Testers then vote on the ones they like best.
Chairs no longer simply appear in a workplace. Employees now have a
definitive say."
And they should: A person, on average, will spend 80,000 hours of his or
her life doing work while sitting. A bad chair can make those hours
uncomfortable and unproductive, and even unhealthy.
"It's important to have a chair that adjusts in height, depth and offers
recline, and armrest options to avoid work-related injuries," notes Colony.
The office furniture industry has used customer research to develop a new
generation of office seating that only somewhat resembles its bare-bones
predecessors. Contemporary office seating blends eye-catching aesthetics
with a full complement of features that support ergonomics and
individualized user comfort.
The F3™ chair with ilira®-stretch from The HON Company is one such
example. This stylish chair represents three elements of comfort -- fit,
form and function. It features one-time adjustments to seat height, depth
and tension, as well as adjustable arm height and width for increased
comfort and durability, adapting to different body shapes and sitting
positions.
Research the Candidates
Comfort in any chair is important, so consider these factors when choosing
the right seating candidate:
-- A good chair allows you to use as much of the seat back as possible
for support, especially your lower back
-- Chairs should have adequate space between the back of your knees to
the front edge of the seat
-- Quality chairs should conform to the curves of your body, avoiding
pressure points that cause discomfort
-- Computer chairs should be stable and have easily adjustable ergonomic
controls that can be reached from a seated position or, better yet, passive
ergonomic adjustments that maintain a comfortable configuration as the user
moves
-- A lifetime warranty on the frame and mechanical parts and a five- to
10-year warranty on fabric is a must
Numerous features are available in today's office seating, making today's
office chairs a far cry from those of yesteryear. From comfort and
adjustability to style and longevity, a chair exists for every worker --
usually within the same design line. By taking a democratic approach in
chair selection and allowing workers to test the front runners and vote on
their favorite candidate, the political landscape within an office can be
one of calm comfort rather than discontent, cramped unrest.
For more information on selecting the right office chair, and the seating
options available today, visit
www.HON.com.
About The HON Company
The HON Company is a leader in the design and manufacturing of workplace
furniture including chairs, files, panel systems, and desks. Headquartered
in Muscatine, Iowa, The HON Company has numerous manufacturing facilities
strategically located throughout the United States, and markets its
products through a nationwide network of dealers and retailers. For more
information, please visit
www.HON.com.
Contact Information: CONTACT:
Betsy Hoye
Advertising & Public Relations Manager
563.272.5690
HoyeB@honcompany.com
Jennifer Allanson or Kristi Stolarski
Robert Falls & Co. Public Relations
216.696.0229
jallanson@robertfalls.com or kstolarski@robertfalls.com
