To: Carlos Hernandez, VP of Finance & Operations at Sam Houston State University

From: Jennifer Adams, Admin Assoc. III, Finance & Operations

Date: October 14, 2018
Subject Line: Feasibility of Standing Desks

Introduction

These days it is typical for an office worker to sit at their desk for many consecutive hours per
day. This leads to detrimental effects on an employee’s overall health. This report will include
the benefits and drawbacks of implementing standing desks for all 46 employees. Beginning with
a brief description then detailing perks and downsides to the implementation. The costs
associated with buying the standing-desk in comparison to what the company stands to gain
overall is outlined below. Findings show that there are both health risks associated with sitting
and standing for long periods of timer. The difference in calories burned while sitting vs.
standing are minimal but the other health related benefits are evident. While there are costs
associated with purchasing of desks and implementation, there is also a reduction in health
benefits cost by the company in addition to overall happiness and wellbeing increase for
employees.

Findings

Sitting Time on Average

According to a journal article published by the American Heart Association, American’s sit an
average of six to eight hours per day. In addition, it is pointed out that exercise only partially
offsets the affects of sedentary lifestyles such as the major cardiovascular conditions that can be
associated with this type of lifestyle. (Lytle, 2017) In a 2014 study performed by Harvard
University including more than 92,000 women findings indicated that the more time they spent
sitting at home and work the likelier they were to die from heart disease, cancer or stroke. Other
studies back up this claim for instance, a study performed in 2014 on almost 17,000 Canadian
adults which resulted in evidence that those who reported the most standing time during work
had a 33 percent less chance of dying from any cause in comparison than their counterparts who
reported the most amount of time sitting during work hours. (Kravitz, 2015)

Workplace Effects of Standing Desks

Reduction in sedentary lifestyles through implementation of wellness programs and interventions

such as the standing desk can have major positive effects of the company. Links between them
and reduced medical spending on the company’s behalf have been proven to be reduced by a
minimum of three dollars for every dollar spent. In addition, standing desks have been linked to
reduced presenteeism, the circumstance of being at work but having limited performance due to
a health concern. (Das, 2016). Employees who use standing desks have claimed to be more
energetic in the workplace and greater overall health. (Martin, 2013) Secondary physiological
benefits in the employee’s overall way of thinking in the workplace has been linked to the use of
standing desks. (Martin, 2013)

What is a Standing Desk

What originally began as a cardboard box positioned under a desktop computer served as the
very first standing desk back in 2012. The invention came about when a worker who was
suffering from sciatic pain who wanted to stay in an upright position simply used a box under his
computer. This just happened to be the co-worker of Jason McCann, the man who came up with
a business plan to create and sell a workstation in which you could work at standing height. That
was the beginning of the Company known as Varidesk in Coppell Texas. (Lytle, 2017) Over
time there have been many more variations and standing desk companies in the mix.

Perks of the Standing Desk

In addition to the previously mentioned positive effects standing desks have on a workplace, the
more prevalent perk of course is the health benefits they offer. Such as reduction in obesity,
diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers (particularly cancer of the colon or breast), and
premature death. (Shmerling, 2016) Humana introduced sit-stand desks eight years ago and has
seen since a boost in employee engagement and retention. Employee health risks for chronic
diseases and related health risks have come down by a whopping 42 percent since the
implementation. Overall the health-related claims have plummeted in the two years since the sit-
stand desks were introduced. (Lytle, 2017)

Disadvantages of the Standing Desk

On the flip side, of course standing for prolonged periods of time has its risks as well. The
implementation of standing desks does open the possibility of such issues. For instance, long
bouts of standing have been known to elicit musculoskeletal or other ailments for those
employees who report long hours of standing. (Das, 2016) If an employer is proactive they can
avoid these detrimental side effects of standing for long periods.

Associated Implementation Costs

Of course, there are a wide range of options for employers looking to purchase standing desks.
Varidesk sells a simple desktop model which simply sits on top of the regular desktop and is
bout $175 each. While their best-selling model runs about $375. There are higher end full sit-
stand model desk that are offered by other companies like Steelcase Inc. which range from
$1,500 all the way to $5,000. Over time the prices and availability of sit-stand desks have seen
improvements according to the vice president of associate health well-being at Humana, Tim
State. (Lytle, 2017) Despite the implementation costs associated with the standing desks many
professionals in their fields are on board with the new sit-stand desk fad. In the words of director
of Human Factors and Ergonomics Research at Cornell University, Alan Hedge, “It is highly
cost-effective”. (Lytle, 2017) According James Levin, an endocrinologist and Director of obesity
solutions for Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University in Phoenix, the return on companies’
investments into the sit-stand work desk is typically between 3 and 7 dollars for each dollar
invested. (Lytle, 2017)

Conclusion

As a result of the research performed and articles reviewed, it is evident that the pros outweigh
the cons in terms of sit-stand desks. There are far more positive experiences and affects in the
workplace than negative. Which is why I am in support of implementation of sit-stand desks for
our employees.

Recommendations

I suggest that as a starting point, we take a moment to analyze the workers and determine if it is
necessary to implement these desks for all or some of the employees. If the company decides to
move forward with implementing the desks for all the workers, it should be stressed to
management that they should educate their workers on the impact they will have on their health
and lead by example in using the desks as they are intended to be used. If others see their
superior using the desk and being active they will be more likely to do the same.
 References

Das, B. M., Mailey, E., Murray, K., Phillips, S. M., Torres, C., & King, A. C. (2016). From sedentary to
active: Shifting the movement paradigm in workplaces. Work, 54(2), 481–487. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.shsu.edu/10.3233/WOR-162330

Kravitz, R. (2015). Can you stand it? Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, 62–63. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.shsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b9h&
AN=102421421&site=eds-live&scope=site

Lytle, T. (2017). Stand Up and Get Moving Standing desks and other innovative workstations could
become the norm in the workplace of the future. HRMagazine, (2), 44. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.shsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl
&AN=RN610218130&site=eds-live&scope=site

Martin, J. (2013). Switching to a stand-up desk. PC Pro, (222), 52. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.shsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
=edb&AN=85435728&site=eds-live&scope=site

Shmerling, R. H. (2016, September 27). The truth behind standing desks. Retrieved from
Harvard Health Blog: Das, B. M., Mailey, E., Murray, K., Phillips, S. M., Torres, C., &
King, A. C. (2016). From sedentary to active: Shifting the movement paradigm in
workplaces. Work, 54(2), 481–487. https://doi-org.ezproxy.shsu.edu/10.3233/WOR-
162330
 RESEARCH REPORT CHECKLIST

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