October 'Ugly' Contest Boots Spooky Office Seats
LONDON, ON, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Spooky seats will end up in the office equipment graveyard during atWork Office Furniture's "Ugly Office Chair" contest. Now through Thursday, Oct. 31, workers across the country are encouraged to give their ugly office chairs the boot, in an effort to improve health and work productivity. Several winners will earn a free replacement chair (a $900 value) and a chance to compete for the ugliest office chair title.
Ugly chair owners are invited to submit an entry form along with photographic evidence of their office chair's ghastly appearance. From fabric challenged to the discoloured, cushion-less, dirty, crooked, tattered, old or abused, all ugly office chairs are welcome. Contest winners will receive one of five Humanscale Smart Chairs carried by the company, a long-time, independent furniture dealer group with five locations throughout Ontario.
Why Ugly Office Chairs?
According to atWork spokesperson Rodney Lover, this month's "Ugly Office Chair" contest aims to shed light on a largely overlooked but serious problem. "Thousands of people rise each morning, shower, put on clean clothes only to sit in broken, uncomfortable, and even dirty office chairs all day long."
This is frightful irony, says Lover, but it is just as shocking to learn that, "Poor-quality office chairs pose serious health risks to the average worker."
Sitting: The Ghoulish Facts
All fun aside, "Desk chairs can be monsters to a person's health," says Dr. Stephen Oliver, a London, Ontario based chiropractor who often treats patients suffering from long-term use of poor seating. "Sitting for long hours on a daily basis, like most workers, has been proven to increase the potential for a host of health concerns, including musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes, heart attacks and more."
"Sitting in a bad, worn or broken office chair just makes matters worse," he said.
These sentiments are also echoed in the broader medical community. During its annual 2013 meeting, American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a policy recognizing potential health hazards of sitting too long. The organization now encourages employers to make sitting alternatives such as sit-stand workstations available to the modern workforce, which typically sits for more than eight hours a day.
The reality is, however, that "Most people have to sit for a living, and this includes prolonged and repeated use of the most important piece of equipment—the office chair," Lover continues. "We recognize this and are working to offer the best chairs available at prices businesses can afford."
For employees who sit during the majority of their workday, Dr. Oliver recommends using an ergonomic chair (one intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid causing stress or injury to the user), as well as taking regular breaks to stand, stretch and walk.
Workers, office managers, and interested parties looking to ditch their spooky seats can join in the fun online: http://www.atwork.ca/uglyofficechaircontest
Each entry should include their ugly office chair photo. Winners' names will be drawn on Friday, November 1st.
About atWork Office Furniture:
atWork Office Furniture has been helping organizations "make it work, atWork!" since the early '80s with exceptional office furniture that not only looks good but stands the rigours of daily use. Five convenient showrooms combine to create an impressive, Ontario, province-wide network of furniture dealers and office design experts who outfit organizations across Canada and beyond.
Contact Dr. Stephen Oliver through his London Ontario Chiropractor website: hwww.chiropractorlondonontario.ca
SOURCE: atWork Office Furniture
Media Enquiries:
Rodney Lover
Director, atWork Sales & Marketing (London)
519-681-2254
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