The Active Office – enhancing workplace wellbeing with innovative office furniture

The working environment profoundly affects how we feel at work. But can the right office furniture and layout also boost creativity, efficiency and collaboration? AJ Products, a leading furniture solutions provider and workplace wellbeing specialist, decided to find out. They collaborated with University Academy 92, a higher education institution co-founded by the Class of ’92 and Lancaster University, to test their Active Office concept.

“The integration of workplace wellbeing initiatives into company culture brings countless benefits to both the organisation and their employees, and we discovered these extend well beyond the obvious advantages” says Helen Beebe, Managing Director of AJ Products (UK) Ltd.

‘You work where your mind is, not where your desk is’. This principle of activity-based working guided the set up in the staff room at UA92.

As experts in ergonomic workspaces that improve productivity, efficiency and employee wellbeing, AJ Products offer a wealth of innovative Active Office solutions.  Products used to create the UA92 Active Office ranged from height adjustable desks with standing mats, under desk treadmills, and active seating: balance stools, saddle chairs, Pilates balls and desk exercise bikes.  Active seating is a key feature in the Active Office which helps to vary posture and avoid static positions.

The set up provided by AJ Products to UA92 offered various workstations, each with different furniture, enabling staff to choose where to work based on their current needs. It also including desk screens to help improve office acoustics. This setup aimed to create a comfortable and efficient work environment, allowing individuals the flexibility to select workstations that best suited their tasks and move around throughout the day.

First Impressions

Henry Titley-Wall, Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Sports at UA92, stresses that “movement is key to overall health and living healthily.” He goes on to say, “We all need to be more active during the working day. Active furniture is the key, providing the tool to do this.”

The Active Office that was installed by AJ Products specifically for this experiment was well-received by staff. One month after installation, users were asked to complete a survey about their experiences using the new set up. Ninety-five per cent of respondents According to the users, the benefits included meeting step goals, burning more calories, improving posture and, importantly, being more active and alert.

Active Office furniture promotes more significant movement throughout the day, addressing the sedentary behaviour that can lead to health and societal issues such as musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes and a reduced lifespan. What’s more, breaking tasks into short chunks, known as Slow Productivity, and using active seating to stay moving while completing each task helps to enhance focus and productivity. Numerous studies indicate that creativity and problem-solving improve after movement.

“We have ingrained associations, developed over time, that you sit down to work,” says Titley-Wall, highlighting the shift towards a more dynamic working style.

Feeling the Difference

Overall, staff responded positively to the furniture, with most reporting improved focus. Seventeen out of twenty-four colleagues felt inspired to adopt a more active working approach. One participant even adjusted their home office setup to be more active after experiencing the Active Office furniture at UA92 and told colleagues, “I loved the work setup, which inspired me to recreate the active furniture set up at home as well”!

Staff performed different tasks better by using a mix of furniture. Many preferred standing while making phone calls, finding movement beneficial for communication. The quietly operating under-desk treadmill allowed for walking at a steady pace during calls without distraction.

Complex tasks were often more effectively completed while sitting. However, sitting for prolonged periods is associated with adverse health effects, such as heart disease and diabetes. The under-desk bike or active seating provided a solution, maintaining movement and increasing efficiency, which is crucial for overall health benefits.

“Our Active Office concept, which we installed at UA92, demonstrates their commitment to their staff by prioritising their health and wellbeing, boosting job satisfaction and, in the long-run, staff retention”, says Beebe.

The Future of Office Furniture

The sit/stand desk emerged as the clear favourite item of furniture, with 83% of survey participants rating it eight stars out of ten or higher. Easy-to-use, this high quality, electrically adjustable ergonomic desk can shift between sitting and standing at the push of button. As a result, staff suggested that it should be the bare minimum of basic equipment to support movement in the workplace.

“The Active Office is about health, not just fitness. It brings broader health benefits, including wellbeing and mental health,” says Henry Titley-Wall.

Conclusion

Helen Beebe surmised, “in the Active Office we have shown that by optimising the physical workspace to allow for greater personal movement and flexibility it has led to greater levels of efficiency, engagement and overall wellness”.

The introduction of the Active Office at UA92 demonstrated significant benefits for workplace wellbeing and efficiency. By offering a variety of workstations and encouraging movement, the furniture supports a healthier, more dynamic work environment. As more organisations recognise the value of such setups, the future of office furniture looks set to prioritise health and flexibility, benefiting both employees and employers alike.