Worksite International Blog

College is Out, Alternative Credentials Are In

Before technology evolved into what it is today, college was where you could learn about one subject deeply and acquire specialized knowledge in a particular field earning a four- year degree. Then subsequently, landing a fantastic job so you could pay back your student loan.

The use of a footrest is often an optional add-on for a seated or standing workstation. Many employers are in a quandary as to whether to provide this curious device. And many employees don’t recognize when they could use one or even how to use one when placed under the workstation. 

The pandemic has changed our sense of community.  During the pandemic, everything changed. Most of us were forced to transition from working in the office to working from home and online. In the process, we learned how to adapt and connect worldwide. Online communities thrived during the pandemic and continue today. The WINetwork is an example of unifying the ergonomics community globally.  

While the pandemic had changed our work and home lives in the short term, its impact of it in the long term remains to be seen around the world. An important outcome of the pandemic is the rise of interest in wellness and well-being, especially in the workplace. 

Pre-Pandemic Workforce Trends 

The impact of the pandemic as a societal change agent has been powerful. In fact, nothing in the last few decades has had more influence on the impact of women at work. There are numerous studies implicating the differences in how the pandemic has affected men and women differently over the last two years. In reality, many of these societal/cultural changes started long before the pandemic.

In recent years, the desk converter has become very popular. If you aren't familiar with the pros and cons of these devices, then read on. A desk converter is an external device added to an existing desk to allow sit-to-stand postural changes. A desk converter is placed directly on the surface or mounted to the surface. A variety of desk converter designs are available offering alternative placement of single, dual and or laptop monitor placement. 

When your employee tells you they have back pain from sitting, do you immediately think you need to replace his/her chair? And if you do replace it, do you worry about whether their cubicle neighbor to the right and left will want one too? Then before you know it…many employees are reporting the same; bringing in therapy balls or asking for ergonomic evaluations to justify replacing their ergonomic office chairs.

As a Physical Therapist, I’ve treated people with occupational and non- occupational musculoskeletal injuries for the last 30 years. Many of the employees I’ve helped in the workplace reported experiencing early discomfort but chose to wait to report their concerns to their employer. By the time they reported their problem, they had a full blown (neuro) musculoskeletal disorder requiring weeks of medical care and even time off from work. With knowledge of self-care, many of these disorders could have been prevented!

Ergonomics Credentials are Like Alphabet Soup

These days ergonomic credentials are like a bowl of alphabet soup leading to lots of confusion for buyers of ergonomics services and those seeking to uplevel their career with ergonomics. There are many credentials available in the ergonomics training marketplace. Understanding the various ergonomics credentials helps to understand the education, training, and experiences impacting the quality of service provided, the fees charged and the results the buyer or employer will achieve. 

Teacher Retention Essential for this School Year

The return to in-person learning, mask debates, increased gun violence and political arguments over what can and can’t be taught have all played a role in teacher retention.

And these pressures are putting a strain on teachers that are already burnt out from the staff shortages, especially in math, science, special education, and early childhood education.