Why employees need height-adjustable desks

Many people already do a lot of sitting outside the office, whether driving, eating, or watching TV. While height-adjustable chairs put employees at comfortable working levels while sitting at their desks, they’re still in an immobile position, limiting blood flow to the legs and inhibiting cardiovascular health. Stand-up desks give employees the option of working without sitting. They enable workers to take pressure off the backs of the legs and embrace the exercise of movement. Height-adjustable tables and desks are the ideal options, putting the working surface at the proper level for sitting or standing, so people can choose the more comfortable position throughout the day.

Height-adjustable desks are ergonomic, sturdy, and spacious

Most adjustable-height desks meet the anthropometric height criteria that the American National Standards Institute set for accommodating female and male workers of different statures. The desks range from 23 inches high while in a sitting position to 49 inches high while standing. Many adjustable selections have electric motors with easy-to-reach controls to modify the tabletop height smoothly, sometimes in as little as 1.2 seconds an inch. Electric controls also let you change the level of a tabletop without having to remove heavy material. Many have dynamic weight ratings between 200 and 300 pounds.

The work surfaces of adjustable desks are durable, with many consisting of either melamine or thermally fused laminates with attractive hardwood veneers or finishes. They also have rugged frames, as many feature 16-gauge steel or extruded aluminum. Several dimensions are available to accommodate individual or team work, ranging from 30 x 36 inches to 84 x 36 inches.

Other options in adjustable desks

Some fixed-height standing desks still have adjustable features, like swing-arm monitor surfaces that tilt into ergonomic positions for viewing screens while standing. Other fixed-height standing surfaces include multi-person, peninsula-style tabletops that sit against walls, have built-in power modules and computer ports, and are set at levels that let users stand or sit with stool-style chairs. Other fixed-height standing tables include adjustable-height workstations with ergonomically flexible monitor and keyboard shelves.

Well-known companies that offer adjustable and stand-up desks

Several manufacturers specializing in office furniture offer ergonomic sit and stand desks. They include:

• Bush® Furniture
• Flash Furniture
• RightAngle™
• SAFCO®