Three Reasons Movement is Good for You at Work

 

 

We all know exercise and a balanced diet are no-brainers for healthy living, but as we move through the year, here are three reasons why moving around is also good for you at work. According to several research studies, movement at work is great for productivity and worker wellness. Whether you own the business or climb the corporate ladder, everyone can get on board with improved efficiency and a healthier lifestyle. From a great task chair to walking breaks, let’s dive in.

  1. Posture is King
HÅG Capisco 8106 with headrest.

First, we’ll start with the beginning of the work day for most – sitting in a task chair is where 50-70% of Americans start their work day and good posture is critical to maintaining a comfortable sit. As 9to5Seating has highlighted in previous articles, good posture is a whole topic that contributes to better productivity in the workplace. Check out that article here. Sitting offers a much-needed rest for the legs, allowing the load to be shifted to other muscle groups. However, healthy spinal motion is critical when sitting. A good task chair should match the natural curve of the spine. People also like to recline or lounge while seated – this is inevitable – so an ergonomically designed task chair also needs to offer a footrest, adjustable back, and adjustable armrests to keep the body aligned and supported while reclining.

9to5 Seating offers several task chairs that promote movement even while sitting. Sol was designed with movement in mind and features unique pivot-back technology that enables torso rotation and side-to-side movement necessary for sharing or reading screens beyond the desktop. HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls are the ultimate movement chairs. Feeling fidgety and restless while sitting? No problem with these chairs because they allow the user multiple different ways to sit, all while still maintaining good posture. Ultimately, the same research shows that comfortable workers are less fatigued, which leads to a 17% increase in productivity.

 

2. Stand While Working
Pictured: Luna task and stool

Knowledge workers can only sit for so long, even with best-in-class task chairs from 9to5 Seating. That’s why leading research suggests that workers stand and move around periodically. Standing allows workers to reset their posture, work different muscle groups, and burn more calories. The shift from sitting to standing is also a natural point to take a stretch break which also promotes good health. As part of an ASU study, employees at the school were given a choice between several types of desks during a remodel, and 80% chose a height-adjustable desk.

So, how do you choose the right sit-stand desk chair for your needs? Check out our helpful tips from a recent blog post: What’s the Right Chair for my Sit/Stand Desk. Tips like, choose a chair with a foot ring and ask yourself where your desk will reside – lab, open work station?

 

3. Get to Walking

Last, if you want to stay healthy and productive, you will have to move around. In the same study cited above, a group of 45 workers was asked to walk at 1 mile per hour on an innovative treadmill workstation. The participants lost an average of 8 lbs and reduced their triglyceride levels by 37%. All of this just by walking for a short period of time consistently during the work week. This type of treadmill workstation setup might not be realistic for every company, but short walks around the office are possible for almost everyone.

Flexback for Dash and Vox

What’s also helpful is mobility when you need it. When you’re in that long training meeting or when you’re in a quick collaboration meeting that turned into something longer a comfortable multi-purpose chair is a must. The Vox and Dash chairs are great options with their unique flexback technology. They can be configured as a standard base, sled, or with casters, which makes them a “swiss army knife” option throughout the office. And like we’ve said, more comfortable employees are more productive employees.

Innovative HÅG SoFi Task Chair

9to5 Seating welcomes innovative active seating solution HÅG SoFi to its popular quick ship line @NCE. The HÅG SoFi is a mesh back, ergonomic and highly customizable chair designed for tasking, conference or collaboration spaces.

The HÅG SoFi combines two market drivers in a single product: clean aesthetics and groundbreaking engineering. Available in black or gray mesh, the HÅG SoFi provides ventilation and gives a sense of space thanks to its transparency, making it ideal for space planning. And HÅG SoFi has an innovative mechanism that lets users shift forward or backward, naturally finding balance in motion. This active task chair energizes the user—making HÅG SoFi a smart seating solution for workplaces that prioritize the health and well-being of their workforce.

 

 

The HÅG SoFi joins the @NCE series, which guarantees fast—usually 24-hour—shipping. The new chair delivers ergonomics, with several cutting-edge features that don’t often come on a single chair. HÅG SoFi’s ergonomic features include adjustable seat depth, padded adjustable lumbar, the intuitive HÅG in Balance mechanism and innovative SlideBack™ armrests, which slide back to allow users to get closer to their desks, sit sideways or use the armrests as elbow support.

Like all of the HÅG offerings, HÅG SoFi is environmentally responsible. It is made from over 41% recycled material and certified BIFMA LEVEL 2 and GREENGUARD GOLD.

“We’re excited to introduce another high-design product from HÅG,” said Dara Mir, President and CEO of 9to5 Seating. “And combining that with 9to5 Seating’s @NCE line that meets a need for efficiency and flexibility in the marketplace, it was a perfect combination.”

HÅG SoFi starts at $1830 list and is now available. Check in with a 9to5 Seating Sales Representative for a demo.

 

Five Things to Consider When Specifying a Chair

When it comes to your next project that requires workspace seating, how do you approach the spec? Check out whatever the big manufacturers are offering and overpay. Spec the trendy chair you saw at NeoCon? Start a Google search that goes down a rabbit trail of dead-ends? Here are five points from 9to5 Seating to consider when specifying office chairs that will help you make a more informed, smart decision.

  1. Ergonomics – If it’s not ergonomic, what’s the point? The benefits of good posture are widely known, and today’s office chairs are loaded with ergonomic features that help knowledge workers stay healthy, alert, and do their best work. A great chair should offer easy mobility and multi-dimension adjustability (reclining, height, seat depth, armrests, lumbar, circulation). The bottom line here? Make sure it’s also a comfortable work chair. Just because a chair offers ergonomics does not guarantee comfort.
Pictured: Sol

Here are a few great options to consider:

  1. Sol: unique side-to-side movement
  2. HÅG Capisco: a rare chair that supports sit-to-stand and traditional sit, movement, and posture changes
  3. Luna: great for a wide range of users, multiple adjustment options, including armrests, a seat slider, and adjustable lumbar
Pictured: HÅG Capisco

2. Customization & Style – In short, it’s 2022, so don’t settle for “standard” when customization is widely available from the best manufacturers. A great chair supplier will also be glad to offer options, price comparisons, and lead times based on various customization configurations. At 9to5 Seating, customization is standard. Color, finish fabric, legs, casters. You decide. Our online Chair Designer tool is great for seeing options and finding your perfect spec.

With all of this, be sure your chairs still look good. 9to5 Seating has racked up awards from HiP, Metropolis Likes, Good Design, CFYC, and more. No matter what you spec, rest assured our design team has your back to ensure it looks great!

 

  1. Quality – This should be a given, but with all of the cheaper chair options flooding the market, it’s worth asking specific questions about durability. Is the chair you are considering BIFMA compliant? Does it have a LEVEL certification? Has proper wear testing been conducted? What is the fabric rating? What is the warranty? With 9to5 Seating, the answers to all of these questions are yes, and every chair offers a limited lifetime warranty. Peace of mind that when you spec 9to5 Seating, you choose quality backed by a guarantee.

4. Sustainability – How will your spec impact the environment? It’s a valid question that is becoming a major factor in the decision-making process of design firms, facility managers, and end-users. 9to5 Seating recently launched Ellie, an innovative chair made from 95% recyclable materials, Greenguard Gold and BIFMA LEVEL 2 certified. With 9to5 Seating, “plastic” is sustainable. Another aesthetically pleasing and sustainable option is Omnia – made from 100% recyclable plastic. That’s forward-thinking when it comes to end-of-product-life options. Last, every chair from 9to5 Seating is LEVEL 2 certified, and HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls are LEVEL 3 certified.

 

Pictured: Ellie
Pictured: Omnia

Beyond the chair itself, what is your manufacturer doing to be a good corporate citizen? 9to5 Seating is proud to be solar powered, LEED Gold Certified, LEVEL certified, and a proud supporter of the non-profit organization One Tree Planted – dedicated to global reforestation. Learn more about the company’s sustainability policy.

5. Overall Value – Are you getting your money’s worth? One way to evaluate this is based on hard cost. 9to5 Seating wins here, with a wide range of chairs starting under $1,000 list price. However, there’s more than price when it comes to value. What do you get for the price? With 9to5 Seating, all boxes are checked when it comes to ergonomics, customization & style, quality, and sustainability. This adds up to make 9to5 Seating a leader regarding overall value for your spec.

So, what’s most important when specifying workspace seating? The answer depends on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and use cases. There’s no one right answer, but with these five tips, you can make the right choice.

HÅG SoFi Awarded HiP Honoree

9to5 Seating is proud to announce that the HÅG SoFi has been awarded the 2022 HiP Honoree Award. Interior Design’s HiP award recognizes innovative products and highlights achievement in product design.

HÅG SoFi is a seating solution with a fresh innovative design, supreme comfort, and flexibility. It is available in mesh or upholstered back options with seat and lumbar adjustment. A unique feature about the HÅG SoFi is how its arms slide out of the way so you can move closer to your table or desk or sit sideways. Learn more about HÅG SoFi at 9to5seating.com/neocon.

HÅG SoFi will be available from 9to5 Seating in Fall 2022.

HÅG Capisco Impresses this Marketing Agency

Pleasantly surprised and impressed – Dallas marketing agency MG Marketing shares their thoughts on adding the HÅG Capisco to their office.

When we first received the  HÅG Capisco & HÅG Capisco Puls, the team was skeptical. It’s different to say the least, and I wondered if these task chairs were really going to be comfortable or more of an over-the-top attempt at ergonomics gone wrong. I’ll cut to the bottom line for those in a rush. The only thing wrong was my faulty assumption about this clever task chair. These chairs are amazing! Read on…

First off, the unique saddle shape for the seat by Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik really helped nudge us toward better posture. Throughout the day each of us found ourselves naturally more upright and less slumped. But not in an exaggerated, unrealistic way. Instead, it just felt comfortable and right – refreshing. The treaded footrests seemed to help anchor us and keep the body aligned. I’m not sure if this is connected, but I noticed one employee using the chair at the max height with his sit/stand desk raised, and he rarely uses his desk above normal height.

Second, the padding and cushioning in the seat and backrest of the HÅG Capisco was like the Goldilocks story – not too soft, not too firm, just right. HÅG is known for their commitment to sustainable, premium materials and precision construction, and 9to5 Seating delivers on sustainability during the upholstery and distribution process. But don’t just take my word for it. The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA) has certified HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls LEVEL 2, a rigorous classification that requires third-party testing and certification. Our team felt great in the chairs and even better knowing these office chairs were responsibly and sustainably manufactured with over 50% recycled material.

Last, the “flip” was the surprise move with both chairs that really has our team convinced that these are the ultimate task chairs. What am I talking about? Just spin the chair around, rest your chest against the backrest, and use the ergonomic cutouts as armrests while working at a desk. I heard comments like “It felt good on my arms”, “seemed to help keep my posture up”, and “it was just fun to mix it up!”.

So if you’re wondering, “are these chairs really worth it?”. Our position is definitely yes! Besides the ergonomics, sustainable materials, LEVEL 2 certification and 9to5 Seating quality, these task chairs are just fun and really add a conversation-starter element to the office. Kudos to HÅG, designer Peter Opsvik and 9to5 Seating for a truly innovative product in the traditional space of office furniture.

HÅG Capisco Expands

 

Stool models are now available for award-winning HÅG Capisco and HÅG Capisco Puls. Equipped with the same ergonomic award-winning saddle seat, the stools are available in a fully upholstered, upholstered seat pad and removable upholstered seat cover. The new stool models are a great fit for education and healthcare applications.

NeoCon 2021 Recap

9to5 Seating had a great NeoCon this year! Despite the lower attendance for the show overall, the buzz over 9to5 Seating at this year’s show was electric.

This year, 9to5 Seating moved to a new and larger showroom (Ste. 1095) reflecting our growth, passion and values that continue to drive us. The larger space allows 9to5 Seating to display our broad portfolio of products as well as entertain and host events, like our Monday night Sips + Seating party!

Also, this year, 9to5 Seating won two prestigious product design awards for the HÅG Capisco: the Interior Design Magazine’s HiP Award and Metropolis Magazine’s MetropolisLikes x NeoCon award. 9to5 Seating is proud to receive these two distinguished awards and will continue to add more high design products to our portfolio, like Jax, Kip, Mila and Sol.

For a virtual tour of the new showroom, click the image below. Remember to roll over the hot spots to learn more about each of the products in our showroom.

Check out more photos from the new showroom and Monday’s Sips+Seating party.

Also, a huge thank you to our staff, operations team, factory teams, Bear Construction and Kuchar Studio for pulling this showroom together!

 

 

Pictured from left to right: HÅG Capisco, Vox, Sol, Mila
Pictured: Vox
Pictured from left to right: Luna Side and Luna
Pictured: HÅG Capisco Puls

Pictured: Sophie series
Pictured: Luna series
Pictured: Jax series
Pictured: Lilly lounge series and Offect Carry On ottoman
Pictured: Ellie Pro
Pictured from left to right: Vault, Cydia, Kelley and Kip
Pictured: Lilly counter height stool
Pictured: Clary, Neo Lite and Neo
Pictured: Sol and HÅG Capisco Puls