6 Tips For Picking The Right Office Chair

The importance of providing your employees with high-quality office chairs that will support their posture and, by association, increase concentration. But how do you know which chair is best? Here are tips for picking the right chair for your staff:

1. Check the lumbar support

Many employees complain of back pain when sitting all day at work. An office chair with lumbar support helps alleviate this issue, so you should seek chairs with this feature. Some designs even have adjustable support, allowing your employees to fit the chair comfortably to their bodies. Additionally, you can find models with firmness control that make the lumbar support sturdier or softer.


2. The more adjustable, the better

In addition to having adjustable lumbar support, the task seating you choose for your office should have a variety of components that you can easily alter to form to your body. Everyone is uniquely shaped, so a standard chair height or arm length position may help one person but fail to support another.

From seat height to incline to arm positioning, the best office chairs have a variety of adjustable features that allow employees to customize their seat to meet their physical requirements.

 

3. Balance breathability and comfort

For many employees, fabric poses a discomfort problem – some fabrics can make them too hot. For this reason, selecting a chair that has breathable fabric, such as mesh, is a helpful option. However, while the back of the chair can offer this breathability, the seat should balance air flow and comfort. After all, the seat needs padding to prevent aches and pains.

Some chair designs don’t have the padded seat, but are still comfortable to sit in for long periods thanks to their ingenious design.

 

4. Narrow your options

Now that you know some of the features you should look for in an office chair, you can narrow down your search. Find a few that have lumbar support, adjustability, comfort and breathability, and then choose from those.

“Your employees should have chairs that meet their physical needs.”


5. Ask for employees’ feedback

Supply your employees with a list of the chairs you’re considering. Ask what they think of each chair, which they would choose and why. Because your staff will be using these chairs every day, they should have one that suits their needs, and having a forum in which to offer thoughts ensures their concerns will be heard.

Employee feedback doesn’t have to determine your choice, but getting a little insight into what each individual needs may help you make a more informed decision.

 

6. Sit in the chairs

When you’re down to a couple of chairs that seem equally beneficial and will meet the needs of your employees, picking one may be difficult. At this point, test out the chairs if possible. Actually sitting in them allows you to experience lumbar support and adjustability and see how easy the seat is to use. Here are some things to look for when you test the chairs:

  • You can adjust the back so you’re sitting upright in the chair with your knees a few inches away from the edge.
  • Your feet are planted on the ground.
  • Your knees are at 90-degree angles.
  • You can move the arms to be at a comfortable height.
  • Making adjustments is straightforward.
  • The seat is comfortable.
  • You can move around easily.
  • Your back feels supported.
  • Maintaining proper posture while seated is easy.

 

With so many office chair options available, finding the right one for your employees may seem like a daunting task. However, these tips can help you narrow your search and ultimately choose task seating that will benefit the health and happiness of your staff.

05 Mar 2024