Ergonomics in the workplace saves your team from chronic back pain and expensive absences.

Lack of ergonomics in the workplace is not a private matter for your employees, but a massive risk to your bottom line. In 2022 alone, absences due to back pain cost the German economy around 12.4 billion euros. The work environment determines whether your team performs at its best or is slowed down by preventable pain.

The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) has been studying this exact question for decades: How must work be designed so that it does not make people ill? The answer is complex, but the most important levers are well known.

At Yaasa, we view ergonomics as a symbiosis of engineering, physiotherapy, and body awareness. Our founder, Walter Koch, was instrumental in shaping the technology that is now the global standard in height-adjustable desks. Together with physiotherapist Martina Goliasch (Praxis Real, Graz) and our B2B expert Alexandra Koch, we have developed a setup that goes beyond mere furniture design.

"In my practice, I see patients daily whose spines suffer from static desks. The most important thing about a workstation is individual adaptability, because movement is life."

— Martina Goliasch, Physiotherapist

Ergonomics in the workplace – a summary

What you will take away from this article:

• Lack of ergonomics is not just a matter of comfort. It is proven to cost companies in Germany billions due to absences and declining performance.

• An ergonomic workstation means: office chair, desk, monitor, breaks, and room climate function as an integrated system. No single element replaces another.

• Lack of physical activity is the real problem – no single piece of furniture can solve it alone. Regularly switching between sitting and standing is crucial.

• The Workplace Ordinance requires employers to design screen workstations ergonomically. This also applies to the home office when teleworking is agreed upon.

• Who is writing here: Alexandra Koch, B2B Sales Manager and ergonomics expert.

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What does ergonomics in the workplace actually mean?

Ergonomics comes from the Greek: Ergon (work) and Nomos (law, rule). The goal of ergonomics is simple: to design work in such a way that it does not make people ill. This sounds self-evident – but it is not.

Ergonomic work design deals with the interface between people, tools, and the environment. In the office, this specifically means: How does someone sit? How high is the desk? How is the monitor positioned? How much movement takes place? What physical strain occurs throughout the day?

The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) defines ergonomic work design as the systematic adaptation of working conditions to the physical and psychological characteristics of the human being – not the other way around.

My viewpoint on this: In my work as a B2B consultant, I see daily that companies think about this the wrong way around. They buy furniture first and then wonder if it is ergonomic. The right approach: First understand the needs of the employees, then equip them. A good workplace is not created through product catalogs, but through planning.

Why ergonomics in office work has so many benefits and what it costs to ignore them

The benefits of an ergonomically furnished office first appear in a significant decline in sick leave. Healthy workplaces are also a crucial argument in employer branding and on social media to retain talent during times of skilled labor shortages. Ergonomic design signals true appreciation.

Pain-free work also reduces psychological strain. An ergonomic workstation forms the foundation for focused work organization. We provide the hardware that standardizes this condition across the entire company and ensures maximum predictability.

Benefits of an ergonomic office

Workplace Ordinance: What employers need to know

The Workplace Ordinance on the design of screen workstations imposes a clear legal obligation on entrepreneurs. The Occupational Health and Safety Act expressly obliges employers to apply the principles of ergonomics to all screen workstations. Those who ignore these standards endanger occupational safety and risk high costs due to workplace accidents.

You ensure legal compliance by meeting DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) requirements. Our products comply with DIN EN ISO standards as well as DIN EN 527. In doing so, you underpin your duty of care and create an environment where the work outcome is not endangered by legal gray areas.

How to fulfill the Occupational Health and Safety Act

The basics: How do I design my workstation ergonomically?

An ergonomically designed screen workstation consists of several elements that must be coordinated. Here are the most important adjustment points:

Setting desk height correctly

Desk height is the first step. The basic rule: When sitting with arms resting loosely on the tabletop, the upper and lower arms should form a right angle. Elbows at table height, shoulders relaxed.

With a height-adjustable desk, this setting can be adjusted to the person – not the room. This is the decisive difference. Yaasa desks are adjusted electrically, at the touch of a button, accurate to the millimeter. If the adjustment is uncomplicated, it will actually be used – a fact confirmed by physiotherapist Martina Goliasch from her daily practice.

set the right desk height

Setting seat height and office chair correctly

The ergonomic office chair is the second center point. Seat height is the most important setting here:

• The feet are flat on the floor.

• Upper and lower legs form a right angle (or slightly more than 90°).

• The buttocks sit slightly higher than the knees.

The backrest should actively support the lumbar spine in the L3–L4 area (lumbar support). Adjust armrests so that the shoulders remain relaxed.

"In my practice, I see patients every day who have been sitting for years on a chair that was never adjusted correctly. The solution is often simpler than one would think – but it requires taking the time to do it once."

— Martina Goliasch, Physiotherapist, Praxis Real Graz

Dynamic sitting: Why the perfect posture is an illusion

There is no such thing as the perfect sitting posture. That is not an exaggeration; it is physiology.

The human body is not designed for static sitting, no matter how well the chair is adjusted. Muscles held in the same position for hours become fatigued. Intervertebral discs need movement to be supplied with nutrients. Anyone sitting in the "correct" posture all day is still not doing their body any favors.

The goal is dynamic sitting: regular, conscious changes of the sitting position. Not once a day, but every 20 to 30 minutes.

"The most important thing is not how you sit, but that you move. Movement is life, even at the desk."

— Martina Goliasch, Physiotherapist

What this specifically means:

Sit upright sometimes, back against the backrest. Sometimes lean forward slightly, forearms on the desk. Sometimes sit on the front half of the chair, without the backrest, to activate core muscles. Sometimes stand up.

A good office chair makes this possible. A rocking mechanism allows for slight movements while sitting without needing to think about it consciously. Armrests that can be folded away allow for switching to the forward sitting position.

My tip as an ergonomics specialist: I use a timer. A signal every 25 minutes that reminds me to change position or stand up for a moment. That sounds mechanical. But it still works because the body doesn't think of it on its own when it's in the flow.

Back pain at the desk

How do I adjust the monitor correctly?

Monitor height and distance are underestimated. The recommendation from occupational medicine:

• The upper edge of the monitor should be at eye level or slightly below.

• The distance to the monitor is ideally 50–80 cm (depending on monitor size).

• With two monitors: Place the main monitor centered in front of the body, the second one offset to the side. If both are used equally often, angle them slightly inwards.

A monitor arm solves this problem elegantly: it allows for height and depth adjustment without losing space on the desk – and also works when switching between sitting and standing.

My opinion: Anyone working only on a laptop gets the short end of the stick. Looking down creates constant pressure on the cervical spine. An external keyboard plus a laptop riser doesn't cost much – and makes a noticeable difference.

suitable monitor height - learn more

Keyboard, mouse, and wrists: What most people overlook

When people talk about ergonomic workstation design, they think of the chair and desk first. Keyboard and mouse are, if at all, an afterthought. This is a mistake, as wrists and forearms are in constant use during office work. Improper posture here leads to tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic forearm pain.

The basic rules are simple:

The keyboard should be at least 10 cm from the edge of the desk. This allows the forearms to rest on the table surface without tension in the shoulders. The wrists remain straight, no bending upwards or downwards. A palm rest can help, but it is not a substitute for the correct desk height.

The mouse should fit the hand size. Mice that are too small force the hand into a gripping position that causes fatigue in the long run. Plan for enough movement space, as anyone constantly hitting the desk edge with the mouse automatically changes their arm posture.

For anyone working on a laptop, an external keyboard and mouse are not extras, but mandatory. The laptop form factor makes a neutral wrist position structurally impossible, as either the screen is too low or the keys are too close to the body. Both are wrong.

My opinion: In my consulting work, I regularly see teams that have invested in high-quality chairs and then type on laptop keyboards that are 30 cm too low. The investment is wasted. Ergonomics works as a system or not at all.

Standing correctly at the desk immediately brings you more energy and eliminates nasty tension

Personally, I like to compare switching to standing to a reset button for the body – it creates space between the vertebrae and noticeably improves concentration after the midday slump.

Long periods of sitting are effectively compensated for by sit-stand dynamics. The body should always be aligned frontally to the monitor. This dynamic eliminates tension, activates the muscles, and keeps the energy level in the team stable throughout the entire working day.

Height-adjustable does not mean: standing all the time now. The goal is good sit-stand dynamics, i.e., a regular change between both positions.

When standing, the following applies:

• The body stands upright, with weight distributed evenly on both legs.

• Shoulders relaxed, arms resting loosely on the table surface.

• Knees not locked – keeping a slight softness in the knees relieves the lower back.

• Adjust table height: When standing, keep arms at a right angle, just as when sitting.

Martina Goliasch recommends working in a standing position for 5 to 10 minutes every hour. No more, because constant standing puts a strain on joints and veins. It’s all about the mix.

the right way to stand at the desk

Breaks and working time: What the law requires and what really helps

Breaks are not a luxury. They are legally required and physiologically necessary. Because lack of exercise is the structural problem of office work. A good chair doesn't solve it; it only slows it down.

The Working Time Act (AZG) regulates minimum breaks and rest periods for employees. For working hours of more than six hours, a break of at least 30 minutes is mandatory. For more than nine hours, the mandatory break increases to 45 minutes. Consequently, working at a screen without interruption for several hours is not only unhealthy from a legal standpoint – it is also not permitted.

The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) further recommends short interruptions every 50 to 60 minutes, regardless of statutory break requirements. The rule of thumb: 50 minutes of work, 10 minutes of movement. In practice, this is hard to maintain, but even standing up for 5 minutes per hour makes a difference. These micro-breaks don't have to be formal breaks. Getting up, getting a coffee, briefly walking to the window – that is enough to interrupt the static load and activate the circulation.

What really works:

Short, frequent breaks are more effective than one long lunch break. The body reacts to the interruption of the load, not to the total duration of recovery. Someone who works through for four hours and then takes a one-hour break is not in better shape than someone who stands up for five minutes every 45 minutes.

Movement during breaks is better than sitting. Anyone who spends their lunch break at the desk checking their phone barely recovers. A short ten-minute walk has been proven to reduce feelings of exhaustion in the afternoon.

Reduce screen time. Anyone looking at their smartphone during a break does not give their eyes any rest. Focus work becomes more efficient through screen breaks – i.e., by looking away into the distance.

Three exercises from Martina Goliasch's practice

Physiotherapist Martina Goliasch recommends simple exercises to do in between tasks. These small units loosen the muscles and can be carried out directly at your desk without any special budget.

1. Desk Plank: Support your forearms on the stable table surface, keep your body straight, and tighten your abdominal muscles. 20–30 seconds. Activates the core without equipment.
   
   

2. Armrest support: Push upwards with your hands on the armrests or seat, and straighten your spine. Briefly relieves pressure on the intervertebral discs.
   
   

3. Neck resistance: Press your hand against your forehead or temple and hold your head against it. Activates the neck muscles and releases tension caused by static posture.
   

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Noise in the workplace: The ergonomics factor that nobody measures

Ergonomics is usually made visible: chair, table, monitor. What you don't see, but still feel every day, is the noise level in the office.

Noise is not a side issue. It is one of the strongest concentration killers in office environments. Even a noise level of over 55 decibels – which corresponds to normal conversation – measurably increases cognitive load. The ASR A3.7 sets an upper limit of 45 decibels for office work. In open-plan offices, this value is regularly exceeded, often without anyone explicitly noticing it.

The consequences do not show up immediately. Constant noise increases cortisol levels, worsens sleep quality, and is associated with a significantly higher risk of mental strain. Anyone working in an office that is too loud is exhausted in the evening, not because they worked too much, but because their brain has been fighting noise for eight hours.

What companies can do:

Sound-absorbing materials on walls and ceilings reduce reverberation. Desk partitions create acoustic zones without needing full walls. Quiet zones for concentrated work are not a waste of space but an investment in productivity. Noise-cancelling headsets are an inexpensive immediate measure for individual workstations.

Yaasa offers desk partitions that are mounted directly onto the desks – compatible with the entire desk line and reorderable in the same configuration.

desk partitions in detail

Ergonomic workspace design in the home office

The home office situation has made an old problem visible: Many people work at kitchen tables, on sofas, or with laptops on their laps. The consequences for the musculoskeletal system are the same as in the office, only without the infrastructure that provides relief.

What really helps in the home office:

• Height-adjustable desk: Not a must, but the most effective lever. The Yaasa Desk Lite is the entry point – compact, electric, and reorderable in every office configuration.

• Ergonomic office chair: Not a kitchen chair. Body posture determines tension in the evening.

• External keyboard and mouse: Allow for a neutral wrist position.

• Laptop stand: The "folder trick" – simply putting a file folder under the laptop – raises the screen and relieves the cervical spine.

Companies that enable their employees to work in a home office also bear responsibility for healthy workplaces there. Although the Workplace Ordinance does not automatically apply to private living space, the employer has a duty of care, and that pays off in practice.

Yaasa delivers office furniture directly to employees' homes – to individual addresses as well as to entire teams. The home office package consisting of a desk, chair, and monitor arm arrives coordinated, without internal coordination effort.

Occupational health management measures in the office

OHM – Occupational Health Management – refers to all measures with which companies systematically promote and maintain the health of their employees. This ranges from prevention courses and nutritional counseling to ergonomic workspace design.

But anyone who sits in a poor posture every day on a poorly adjusted chair cannot improve anything permanently with a sports class.

The goal of ergonomics is the reduction of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which, according to the Fraunhofer IAO, is successful. Ergonomic workspace design reduces diseases of the musculoskeletal system by an average of up to 56%.

My point of view: OHM is not a fruit basket. If you are serious, you start with the physical infrastructure and treat ergonomics as an investment, not an expense. Scalable systems from Yaasa offer solutions for ergonomic workspace design that make no compromises.

healthy design of workplaces

Room climate and lighting: Underestimated factors of the work environment

Ergonomic workspace design does not end with a chair and table. The work environment significantly influences concentration, fatigue, and well-being.

1. Room temperature: The ASR A3.5 recommends a room temperature between 20 and 22 °C for office work. Too warm increases fatigue; too cold promotes muscle tension.

2. Humidity: 40–60% relative humidity is ideal. Air that is too dry strains mucous membranes and eyes – especially during long periods of screen work.

3. Light: Natural light in the workplace has been proven to increase sleep quality and well-being. Monitors should be parallel to the window – never with the window at your back (glare) or facing the light source (contrast).

Ergonomics checklist: How to evaluate your workstation in 5 minutes

Our ergonomics checklist for the workplace helps you objectively assess the status quo. In addition to mechanics, the room climate also plays a crucial role. Pay attention to room temperature (approx. 21°C) and humidity (40-60%) to promote concentration.

Posture & Adjustment

• Feet are flat on the floor

• Knees and hips at a right angle, buttocks slightly higher than knees

• Elbows at table height, shoulders relaxed

• Upper monitor edge at or slightly below eye level

• Monitor distance 50–80 cm

Equipment

• Table height-adjustable (electric recommended)

• Office chair with adjustable seat height, lumbar support, and armrests

• External keyboard and mouse (when using a laptop)

• Sufficient lighting, monitor not against a light source

Dynamics

• Stand up at least once per hour

• Regular alternation between sitting and standing

• Short movement unit 1–2x daily (5–10 min.)

Room climate

• Room temperature approx. 20–22 °C

• Humidity 40–60 %

• Regular ventilation

checklist for the workplace

Why Yaasa: The technical foundation

Yaasa is not a furniture dealer. We produce ourselves, fully control the supply chain, and develop products in Lannach/Graz – with the knowledge that our founder Walter Koch has built up over more than 25 years of research in the field of linear adjustment technology.

Together with the company Logicdata (Walter Group), Walter Koch co-defined the electronics and mechanics that are now the global standard in height-adjustable desks. When we talk about ergonomics, we speak from the perspective of the people who shaped this category.

What this means for companies:

• Up to 10-year manufacturer warranty – possible because we take responsibility for every part.

• 60-day trial period – risk-free, before a decision is made for the entire team.

• Reorderability: Same configuration, available at any time – no model changes, no loss of quality.

• Scalability: From 2 to 200 workstations – no new suppliers, no loss of coordination.

 

Conclusion: Workplace ergonomics as a strategic lever for company success

Workplace ergonomics is your physical insurance against productivity losses. Investing in a healthy room climate and ergonomic hardware today saves billions in downtime costs tomorrow. An ergonomic office is not a cost item, but a source of return.

Yaasa is your partner for this transformation. As an Austrian manufacturer, we provide the infrastructure that high-performance teams need. We combine the technical legacy of Walter Koch with the medical expertise of Martina Goliasch and the knowledge of Alexandra Koch. Rely on up to 10 years of warranty and choose hardware that breathes true professionalism and appreciation.

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FAQ – Strategic questions about office equipment

Is the investment in Yaasa worthwhile compared to low-cost providers?

Yes, because low-cost providers cut corners on mechanics and software. Yaasa offers a warranty of up to 10 years and amortisation in under 5 months through reduced healthcare costs. We supply infrastructure that lasts 15+ years.

Do we absolutely need a headrest on the chair for an ergonomic setup?

Martina Goliasch is of the clear opinion that a headrest is usually superfluous for active work. You sit upright and do not lean your head back. Adjusting the seat height, lumbar support, and armrests is more important.

How important is ease of adjustability in everyday work?

Physiotherapist Martina Goliasch emphasises: if adjustment is difficult, it won't be used. Yaasa products are easy to adjust, which is crucial, especially in desk-sharing models.

Do Yaasa furniture items meet the Occupational Health and Safety Act in Germany?

Absolutely. Our products are certified according to DIN EN ISO and DIN EN 527. They meet all the requirements of the Workplace Ordinance and effectively minimise your liability risk.

Can the setup be tested in advance?

Yes, we offer companies a 60-day trial period. You will receive a complete setup to test. We take on the full risk, including free collection if you are not convinced.

Sources

BAUA: Modern screen work | DAK Health Report 2025: Hildebrandt-Heene et al. | DGUV - Screen and office workplaces | IPA: Daub et al. | BAUA: Screen work | BAUA: Room temperature | Safest: Wetjen | WIdO: Schüssel et al.