How to ask for a standing desk and other healthy WFH essentials

The benefits of standing desks, especially when paired with other key ergonomic essentials, are clear. Whether you are working from home full time or still working in an office, there are a few considerations in making the case to your company’s decision makers to invest in a healthy, energizing workspace:

• Cite the research. There are countless studies proving that sitting all day can lead to chronic health conditions. Sharing these with HR can help build your case. Check out this list of resources from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which found that standing desks were the fastest growing employee-benefit request in 2017.

• Get a doctor’s note. Physicians and physical therapists can prescribe a healthier work environment, which could be categorized as an "accommodation" under the Americans with Disabilities Act depending on your job. You can learn more here.

• Ask for a standing desk converter to keep costs down and eliminate the need for a complete overhaul of your existing furniture.

• Suggest an employee stipend program for a healthy WFH set up. Learn more about how a company can easily set up a stipend program tailored to its employees' work from home needs. 

Need more resources? Check out this piece that corrects all the misinformation out there about ergonomic office furniture.