This article was originally emailed as our monthly Workplace Design & Management newsletter at 11:00 on 17/08/2017. You can view older newsletters here and register to receive them monthly.
THE BEST WORK ENVIRONMENT
Will only happen with training!
Our workplace environment impacts our wellbeing and productivity. Lots of research tells us this and there are endless articles about the design of space, light, temperature, acoustics, furniture and buildings themselves. The more holistic articles (and enlightened employers) embrace diet and exercise too. Perhaps I am reading the wrong articles but there seems to be comparatively little about training. Some of the key issues (light, temperature and acoustics, for example) will directly affect individuals without any proactive participation. Other key factors will require Behaviour Change to make a significant difference or even, in some cases, make any difference at all. Engagement specialists understand this and Behaviour Change experts help employers make this happen but it often seems to be forgotten that we are creatures of habit. Unless encouraged, aided or cajoled, we default to acting as we always have, whatever the changes to our environment. Let us hear more about the essential education and support necessary to optimise the use of our work environments. If you are a specialist in these disciplines – or know where to find the articles I am missing, please let me know!
CANTEEN AND CAFÉ FURNITURE
How will it be used?
Does your organisation use the staff restaurant just for eating or as an ad hoc meeting place? Are your catering facilities simply a refuelling station for your own people or a hospitality area for visitors? Do you prefer circular tables or will long rectangular benches increase the likelihood of serendipitous meetings? Will you need power sources for laptops and handheld devices? Ready access to healthy food is a crucial element of today’s wellbeing focus and properly planned catering facilities provide a multi-functional space which can enhance staff engagement and improve communications. The furnishing of any hospitality area needs to consider the scope of use as well as the corporate brand and ethos. This link provides a handful of examples and we can suggest many more depending on the answers to these and other questions.
SIT-STAND-PERCH
Exploring the ‘third way’
It is ironical that perching, the ‘third way’ in the sit-stand conversation, first became topical a few decades ago during discussions about standing too much! Historically, there have been many logical applications for perching in manufacturing environments as a way to reduce the standing time for machine operators and process personnel without the productivity loss which can arise from frequent changes between sitting and standing. You will also see perching stools in galleries and museums so that attendants do not have to stand for their entire shift. [read more]
CYBER SECURITY
The responsibility of everyone
We are currently reviewing our cyber security procedures and data protection systems. Two key factors stand out: you are only as strong as your weakest link and the list of devices, apps, processes and systems to be part of the review seems endless. Reflecting on the former, it comes as no real surprise that the WannaCry attack on the NHS and other organisations was so effective. It only needs one individual to unknowingly open an unsafe item on apparatus that has not been fully maintained to expose a weakness. Keeping your systems updated and ensuring all your personnel take personal responsibility for their own devices is a full-time challenge!
Posted by Guy Osmond 
It is ironical that perching, the ‘third way’ in the sit-stand conversation, first became topical a few decades ago during discussions about standing too much! Historically, there have been many logical applications for perching in manufacturing environments as a way to reduce the standing time for machine operators and process personnel without the productivity loss which can arise from frequent changes between sitting and standing. You will also see perching stools in galleries and museums so that attendants do not have to stand for their entire shift. [
In conjunction with Contour Design, we are currently promoting our 30 day free trial offer. With no upfront payment, you can now try any of the Contour RollerMouse products and/or the Balance keyboard for up to thirty days before making your buying decision. The RollerMouse portfolio has been revised and extended again recently and the proven technology just keeps getting better! Simply complete the request form 
I mentioned in April that we are working on a major redesign of 
As I write this, it is a short while until I fly to Las Vegas for the annual National Ergonomics Conference & 
It is ironical that perching, the ‘third way’ in the sit-stand conversation, first became topical a few decades ago during discussions about standing too much!
For a modern approach to the traditional ‘bus stop’ perch, the 
The 
The 
This month I have been looking at health and safety legislation in multiple territories. This conversation then extended into looking at other roles with multinational responsibility and thinking about how different organisations approach cultural diversity. It is hard enough to address all the issues affecting engagement in a single country, so overlaying cultural conflicts adds an order of magnitude to the challenge. This is especially so when the parent company has a very different national culture and assumes it can simply be overlaid on every other territory worldwide! Are you and your organisation especially good at both recognising and integrating cultural diversity – or is this a problem you are currently facing? I want to explore this further and welcome any contributions, questions or ideas. In the first instance, please 
As offices start to look like hotel lounges and hotel lounges become work hubs, specific themes and approaches emerge. New product concepts appear and, within weeks, every manufacturer has its own interpretation of the same idea! Once that has happened, it becomes a personal choice for style, quality and function.
In May, I mentioned the current interest in my ‘
I am a podcast enthusiast: I find they are a valuable source of both entertainment and education. My latest discovery is Workplace Matters by Ian Ellison of 
With our company year end just behind us, we are conscious of the need to update our demo stock and clear redundant samples. Chairs, in particular, seem to propagate in the warehouse! To create space and, perhaps, give you the chance to buy an excellent chair for your home, we have created 
Like buses, mini keyboards seem to arrive in batches. This month, we have three new products from three different manufacturers. Each has a very different evolutionary history and application. The new Bluetooth and wired Ultraboard from Bakker Elkhuizen has evolved from the highly successful Sboard/Saturnus which has been a mainstay of our portfolio for several years. The Balance keyboard from Contour complements their RollerMouse products exceptionally well and, finally, the new Wireless K360 from Logitech provides a quality, compact RF wireless product to fill the gap created since the demise of the Microsoft Arc. See them all 
A close friend and colleague has recently given me access to an outstanding document which outlines the legislation relating to occupational health and safety in 41 countries. This provides real insight into the diversity of statutory and legislative requirements. Did you know, for instance, that onsite workstation assessments are a requirement in countries like Singapore, Switzerland and South Africa, as well as the UK (and many others)? Or that, in China, personnel must be trained and pass a test in work safety before being ‘assigned to post’? If you are working in multiple markets and would like to discuss this further, please 
Thank you to the many who replied to our recent request for UK workplace assessors. We have been delighted with both the number and quality of applicants. For the time being, we have almost completed the process but there are still a few UK areas where we need better cover. For these areas, we are now only considering ad hoc self-employed personnel but, if you are interested in joining our team on this basis, please send your CV to 
The 
The new 
The buzzword at CDW 2017 was Wellbeing. I am delighted to see that the designers of mainstream workplace environments are recognising the importance of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF&E) but we know that issues to consider under the Wellbeing heading are numerous and diverse, extending way beyond the provision of comfortable, attractive furniture. We see mental health as a major cause for concern for many of our clients so it is important to address this alongside physical health and employee engagement for a successful, productive workforce. [
Have you looked at our event diary recently? We run regular webinars alongside periodic training and education events on topics relevant to senior managers in all organisations. Whether you are in Facilities, HR, Health & Safety or Procurement, there will be subjects that resonate with your current priorities. Recent webinar sessions include ‘Is it true what they say about Millennials?’ and ‘Zero Inbox – the Basics of Email Management’. Many events are free! 
In comments about 
We still have some space on our 2 day DSE Assessor Course in London on Wednesday and Thursday June 28-29, 2017. Once again, this will be delivered for us by 
As well as working on significant plans to update our 
At the recent 
Regular readers will know that I love technology! As well as ThinkFM, I have attended a number of recent presentations about new developments that impact our behaviour and, indeed, our lives. However, I frequently find myself torn between thinking ‘this is brilliant and really useful’ and ‘do I really want to surrender so much information about myself?’. I know there is nothing I can do about it but my privacy seems to be constantly eroded and I have no control. However, there is one technology this Grumpy Old Man is really looking forward to: Smart Contact Lenses! Wouldn’t it save a lot of embarrassment to see a person’s name appear beside them in augmented reality as they walk towards you?
The 
In his opening address at ThinkFM, 
I do not think I am paranoid and I am sure, to some degree, this cynicism is generational. I am not even suggesting we should be fighting against any of this technology. I just feel we should give more thought to the privacy we are surrendering! I have just read Stewart Mitchell’s article (PC Pro magazine 274/pp14-15) which explores what 
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we have participated recently in 
For our stand at the Business Show, we needed a product to represent our broader portfolio in a compact space. The Lux seating family provides an ideal mix of striking design and small footprint which met the brief exactly. As an evolution of the traditional tub chair, it is available in a choice of high and low backs and single or two-seater models. Complete with co-ordinating low tables, it is ideal for reception and breakout areas where space is limited.
This is the title of a new presentation I delivered recently to a group of senior managers in the finance field. In it, I addressed some of the key issues in the context of a multi-generational workforce and explore ways to improve communications across age groups and character types. You can see the PowerPoint deck 
Following the introduction of the new work environments literature mentioned above, our seating brochure needed a facelift. The 
Depending when you read this, CDW is just coming or you may have just missed it! If there is still time to book, you can do so 
To meet the needs of new and existing client contracts, we require more workplace assessors throughout the UK. We are happy to consider full- or part-time employment applications as well as self-employed assessors looking for ad hoc work. In the first instance, please 
We have scheduled another 2 day DSE Assessor Course in London on Wednesday and Thursday June 28-29, 2017. Once again, this will be delivered for us by 
With the end of our financial year imminent, we have a small number of ex-demo and sample chairs available for disposal. To create warehouse space and reduce time during our annual stock-take, we are offering some highly competitive prices as long as we can clear them before the end of May. All chairs are in very good condition and will be offered with a warranty of at least two years. Some of these are being offered at less than half the original retail price and will be ideal for your home office or even as a gift. The stock list is quite short and all enquiries will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis. Just 
You probably already know that we run 
My favourite presentation of the recent CIEHF 2017 Conference (which we also sponsored) was the 
After much deliberation, I shall be a delegate again this year. I have missed the last two events for family reasons but was unsure about how well I might cope with Las Vegas in August since daytime temperatures can reach around 40C! Having made the commitment, I have also been granted a discount code to share. If, therefore, you are thinking of 
Osmond Ergonomics 