Worksite International Blog

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.

As a leader in the organization and at the top of the organizational chart, it is the CEO who drives change and imparts his/her vision and values onto the organization. It has become imperative that CEOs and top executives focus on strategies that support growth, employee retention, organizational health, and employee well-being.

Working remotely has its pros and cons as we have all learned. There are some really great benefits of work from home, but the downside, can be problematic. One of the limitations is not having the best ergonomic set up at home leading to lost productivity, impaired performance, and injury.

The budget process is an annual or monthly endeavor for companies to plan for purchases, services, and staff needs. However, one important cost allocation is routinely missing. 

Often, I’ll hear prospects shopping for ergonomics services say, “We don’t have a budget for ergonomics.”

Sadly, most employers don’t have a line item or planned budget for ergonomics programs and training. Yet doing so would make tremendous sense, given our reliance on technology, remote work, and the exposure to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) associated with prolonged sitting and computer use.

What does your employee's ergonomics journey look like?

Every organization who has an ergonomics program that offers ergonomics evaluations creates a journey for its employees. What does your employee ergonomics journey look like? 

Our new way of working requires a new way to lead.

Leadership is a hot topic. That's because we need B.R.A.V.E. leaders when times are challenging. With the growing focus on health, safety, and well-being in the workplace, it's the perfect time to elevate the need for ergonomics as a leadership driven change management strategy that addresses the way we work today. 

Our New Way of Working Requires a New Way of Leading

We are never going back to how we were! While this is the nature of progress, the pandemic accelerated change in ways we never imagined. It brought to the surface humanity's need to change quicker than any of us could conceive. Everything we do is now altered including how we communicate, socialize, shop, travel, use healthcare, and technology. Every facet of our lives - especially work - is different. 

Are you taking a transactional approach to ergonomics?

Let me explain. 

Many employers take a transactional approach to their ergonomics program, buying ergonomics services as needed in reaction to a situation or employee concern. It is the most common way employers consume ergonomics.

What the Experts Say

The pandemic is unfortunately here to stay for at least two more years says Toolie Garner, a remote leadership expert. Toolie and I spoke recently where she indicated it will literally take the entire world getting vaccinated before the pandemic slows. New variants will continue to emerge and air travel makes it easy for the virus variants to spread globally.