Changes That Can Enhance the Workplace

Have you ever thought about any changes that could improve the workplace, perhaps even your productivity?  According to one source, certain adjustments are being made to help older workers; however, younger ones just might be in favor of them too.

1.       Lighting –Some employers improve lighting by switching to indirect overhead lights with up to 60 percent higher intensity.

2.       Sound – Solutions to bad workplace acoustics include sound-absorptive panels, specially treated materials, carpeted floors and workstation enclosures.

3.       Sit-stand desks – Sitting puts more stress on your back than standing, and these powered versions of this office furniture can go up and down with a flick of a switch.

4.       Keyboards – A keyboard with larger keys is ideal — and since the human eye sees contrasts well, a light-colored keyboard with large black letters can make the job easier.

5.       Doors – Strength decreases by about 30 percent at age 65, and old-fashioned doorknobs become more difficult to open, so some have switched to door levers, which do not require a grip or much force to open.

6.       Assembly Lines – In Germany, BMW Group is operating the automotive industry’s first component assembly line designed from the ground up to facilitate healthy aging in the workforce.

For more information on all of these options, go to http://www.aarp.org/work/on-the-job/info-03-2012/redesigning-workplace.1.html.

Source: AARP.org