White collar or desk-based jobs may seem low-risk for workplace injuries and many employee wellness initiatives focus on getting employees out of their desk chairs. However, because most desk-based workers spend upwards of six hours a day in a chair, improper posture due to poor workspaces was actually cited as the number one workplace injury in 2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In order to combat these injuries, employers have adopted participatory ergonomics programs as part of their workplace wellness and workplace safety initiatives to ensure employees, especially those in remote work settings maintain supportive workspaces.
In this blog we will explore how utilizing dedicated incentives, like gift cards, can engage employees in participatory ergonomics programs and drive down the rate of workplace injury, promoting wellness through improved workplace ergonomics.
The Importance of Participatory Ergonomics
Participatory ergonomics is a relatively new concept that truly combines workplace safety and workplace wellness initiatives into one. In addition to the reduction in workplace injuries due to poor posture, these programs can build trust and promote communication between employees and management. The direct nature of the feedback required to make ergonomics programs work, opens communication channels for employees to voice their needs to management beyond the ergonomics program.
The reduction of injury and the increase in direct feedback from employees to management has a positive impact on productivity across a workforce by reducing distraction from discomfort, or subpar working conditions.
Participatory ergonomics programs can provide a basis for a strong, transparent workplace culture, but getting employees to participate in the program initially can be a challenge. Often, employees don’t want to be the first to voice their needs for something as personal as ergonomics. Continue reading to understand how to drive engagement, and use incentives to promote these niche programs.
Driving Engagement for Participatory Ergonomics
Once ergonomics programs are up and running, they can be positioned along with other employee wellness programs, however driving initial engagement can be tricky.
Ergonomics can be personal and feel like something employees need to create for themselves. However, providing education on the importance of ergonomics and making the program easy to utilize for employees can attract employees to make ergonomic improvements to their workspaces.
For remote workers, it’s critical to ensure they have a proper office setup and aren’t working at their dining room table or kitchen counter as many may have during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers should provide ergonomics resources and instructions to remote and hybrid employees to ensure their at-home workstations are healthy and comfortable.
Positioning participatory ergonomic programs as wellness benefits allows employers to bear the (often expensive) burden of ergonomic work set-ups and makes them approachable for employees, along with other wellness benefits that might promote healthy lifestyle choices like movement.
Driving engagement in these programs allow them to grow organically and expand their impact from simply reducing workplace injuries to building workplace culture, even when the workplace is virtual. However, ensuring your program is measurable with features like SMART goals will allow you to track the impact of your participatory ergonomics program along with and independently from other complementary wellness and safety initiatives.
How Gift Cards Support Participatory Ergonomics
When building a participatory ergonomics program, driving engagement early is important to build momentum for the program and increase awareness across your workforce. Incentives, like gift cards, are an effective tool to drive engagement and make it easy for employees to purchase ergonomic equipment.
Having the ability to provide gift cards to a variety of brands like Office Depot® OfficeMax®, Staples, Wayfair, CVS Select®, Amazon.com, or Visa® Reward Card can make it seamless for employees to be able to select and purchase ergonomic equipment from their preferred retailer on their terms.
The Engage2Reward™ Gift Card Ordering Platform makes incorporating incentives and rewards into your program easy. The Engage2Reward Platform provides flexibility to meet any program budget, easy delivery options for both physical and digital cards, and an intuitive ordering system that will keep incentive and reward ordering easy on program administrators.
Ergonomics may not seem like a flashy employee benefit program, but ensuring proper posture and support for workspaces, whether in an office or in an employee’s home is critical and can mitigate risk and liability for employers. Emphasizing the importance of ergonomics and driving engagement in participatory ergonomics programs keeps employees safe, productive, and loyal to employers.
