Many people assume that adjustable workstations’ cost is more than their benefits are worth.
This is only partially true—adjustable work stations do cost more than static ones. But that doesn’t mean that adjustability equals prohibitive cost.
Consider, if you will, “standard” adjustable height work stations. “Standard” here doesn’t mean that you can walk into any Home Depot or Lowe’s and buy them off the shelf, but rather that, when a manufacturer builds adjustable workstations, they often have “custom” designs and “standard” designs.
Custom designed workstations may give you every last feature you can possibly think of, but standard adjustable work stations will give you the “greatest hits” package at a far lower cost. The additional features you’ll be “missing” from custom setups are likely superfluous anyway, and you’ll save a nice chunk of change while getting everything you really need from your new adjustable workstations.
And, speaking of features, one of the easiest places to save on costs when buying adjustable height work stations is the height adjustment mechanisms themselves.
Electronic controls are, of course, a bit quicker and easier than hand crank setups. But, with hand cranks to raise and lower your workstations, you can swap a little elbow grease for a lot of cash and save big.
Though adjustable height workstations do cost more than static workstations, you’ll likely find that your company will require fewer total workstations if they have the added advantage of adjustability.
If, for example, you have a six-and-a-half foot tall employee performing key tasks during the early shift, and his late shift counterpart is five-foot-eight, you may have needed two different work stations to allow both of staff members to perform their jobs with supreme efficiency.
With the adjustable height option, both workers can easily use the same workstation to maximum effect. This will increase your overall output per square foot and save floor space.
Perhaps a typical workday involves a number of employees working on a variety of projects—some that are best tackled while sitting, some that are easiest to complete standing up, and others that fall somewhere in between. Rather than moving from station to station throughout the day, your employees can simply move their adjustable height workstations up and down as needed, reducing downtime and improving productivity. And, with adjustable height comes greater employee comfort and safety—bending down, reaching up, stretching awkwardly, and other unpleasant repetitive movements can lead to pulled muscles, tweaked backs, and other maladies that keep employees from the job and greatly reduce your workplace’s overall efficiency.
When working in comfortable, healthy postures, employees are much more focused, productive and efficient. The increase in productivity alone is enough to offset the additional cost of adjustable height workstations for your workplace.
While adjustable work stations may cost more than the static, non-adjustable kind, they will prove to be a more economical addition to your workplace. By choosing your options wisely, and getting only what you really need, you can greatly reduce costs. And, when considering the long-term benefits they deliver—greater versatility, fewer necessary units requiring less floor space, greater employee comfort and safety, increased overall efficiency and productivity—it’s easy to see that adjustable height workstations are a sound investment in your business.