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Employee health is still a factor that needs consideration, even in the context of remote work and work-from-home environments.

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The reality of remote work and work from home environments is undeniable. This is especially the case in the wake of the events of recent years. While technology has been steadily increasing for the past few decades, remote work was something that has sort of been a long time coming. However, it wasn’t really until the onset of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that remote work was starting to become an accessible option for just about everyone. While it was initially out of necessity and the need for health precautions, the validity of the remote work environment was proven very quickly. With employees reporting higher levels of job satisfaction, and achieving a better work-life balance, employers saw the benefits of improved productivity and efficiency during actual working hours. It really was a win-win situation. 

However, employee health is still a factor that needs consideration, even in the context of remote work and work from home environments. This is especially the case around musculoskeletal aches and pains. In response, there has been a major focus on the ergonomics available for outfitting a home-office. 

“If you haven’t set up an ergonomic home office, you may already be feeling the effects.  Sometimes simply changing your workspace can help alleviate your pain.” – Dr. D.C Hurd, Author, Advanced Wellness Solutions –

There are a lot of different pieces to the puzzle when it comes to outfitting an ergonomic home office. However, the center point for this entire endeavor is going to be the office chair you choose. This is because the chair you choose can directly impact all of the different areas of the body that ergonomic design aims to protect. For example, your back, neck, arms, and even booty are all going to be in basically constant contact with your chair for between 8 and 12 hours during the workday. This alone should demonstrate the critical role of the office chair in the outfitting of a home office. 

The height of the office chair you choose is one of the most important factors in getting a comfortable, and healthy fit for your specific body. If you’re particularly tall or short, you may want to spend a little extra time and energy on the chair selection process. 

“A new home office chair was one of the first purchases I made when I realized that we would no longer be making use of the in-person office. Not nearly as regularly anyway. Honestly, it was one of the best purchases I’ve made. Now I can spend all day working in here if I need to, and my body just doesn’t hurt or ache the way it used to.” – Ian Heyman, Founder, Dermasteel –

Next on the list of essential home office equipment is that of the appropriate keyboard and mouse combination. These are two of the critical pieces of equipment that you’re going to need for your job performance. Typing and maneuvering the mouse are common activities in which office workers have to engage. As such, you’re going to want to spend some time sorting through your shopping options when it comes to selecting the appropriate keyboard and mouse for you.

In this search, it’s important to realize that there isn’t any single one-size-fits-all solution. As such, the right keyboard and mouse combination for you may be different than it is for someone else. There are a lot of factors that play into the right keyboard and mouse selection, including the desk height, and the size of your hand. 

Your keyboard should have a slight negative angle, and your mouse should rest comfortably in your palm. 

“It took me about a month of shopping, but I finally found my ideal keyboard and mouse set. I spend a lot of my time at my desk, working through long documents, so it’s helpful to have a keyboard that’s comfortable for my wrists. The same goes for the mouse. Now I’m hardly ever concentrating on my wrist or finger pain.” – Alex Carroll, Founder, Caliber Games –

In designing your home-office set up, it’s integral that you transition away from the sole use of a laptop. This is because laptops are typically not ergonomically friendly. The smaller, cramped keyboards that laptops use for lightweight and mobility are ergonomic enemies. Additionally, The angles at which laptop screens can be set, can further irritate neck pain and lead to chronic muscular-skeletal pain. 

Instead of relying on your personal or company provided laptop, using a monitor helps many home-office professionals maintain productivity levels and multi-task, without risking an accelerated injury. 

“Right now I’m making use of 3 monitors in my home office, plus my laptop where everything connects. It’s great, I can customize my view, I can multitask and keep track of multiple projects at the same time, and I just feel like I can manage way more. I might even add a 4th monitor soon.” – Chris Coote, CEO, California Honey Vapes –

Second only to the office chair itself is the office desk that you’re going to use in your home office. Picking the right desk can be a game changer for the home-office-professional. There are a lot of variables to consider when picking the right desk for your home office including; size, height, features, and storage. 

The right desk for you will offer you enough space to work comfortably and maintain levels of productivity.

“One of the most exciting moments of my life was when I was in a position to pick out my own desk for my home office. I mean it’s just a good feeling. I love my desk, cause I can adjust the height and even stand at it if my legs are feeling restless that day.” – Ryan Azimi, Director of International Development, ETIAS –

Finally, but certainly not least, monitor positioning is extremely important. You don’t want to be straining your neck against a steep angle, and you don’t want to strain your eyes against a harsh glare, either. 

Getting the angle of your monitor just right, can make your whole work day go much smoother.

“Taking a few moments to ensure that your home office is set up properly can help you reduce repetitive stress and strain while working. This can minimize pain, improve posture, and improve your overall productivity while working.” – Brett Sears, Physical Therapist, VeryWell Health –

George Nellist is a public relations, marketing and strategic brand expert who has executed social media and strategic marketing campaigns for a variety of Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. For more information, visit Ascend Agency.

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