Apres Planet February '15 | Page 2

2 APRES COMMENTS perch or constantly move around while working.  MuSculoskeletal disorders cost uk employers £590 million - £625 million per annum Wilkhahn offers the Stand-Up, a stool on which you neither sit nor stand – it’s something in-between – but which relieves physical strain while allowing movement. This stool is also perfect for informal meetings and can easily be carried or moved to breakout areas or to a desk.  Another great seating solution is that of Aeris. They saw the need workers at large corporations had while working on assembly lines – standing for hours on end decreased their productivity but sitting down in rigid chairs minimized movement and also decreased their productivity. The solution to this problem was the production of both the Muvman and the Swopper. Used by Bosch and Siemens, these chairs are the beall and end-all when it comes to healthy sitting as the clever use of 3D technology allows for flexibility and movement in all directions. Not only do these chairs allow for flexible movement, they also actively work your core and help you stay in shape. The aeris swopper keeps you sitting healthy Also aiding agile working is the prominent appearance of height-adjustable desks. As we’ve mentioned BUY YOUR HEALTH BACK Agile working is not just about productivity... By Wessel Stoltz We›re all familiar with flexible working or homeworking and where these terms mostly refer to Sitting down to hammer away at a keyboard for «anytime, any place, anywhere» working styles, this eight hours a day is a relatively new occurrence in description is too simplistic to describe what agile the scope of human development. As a result of working is. prolonged sitting, we’re experiencing a rise in cases of colon cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteo-  Agile working is not so much about the place (inciporosis, diabetes and slower brain function. Sit- dentally I am sitting in a cafe filled with quasi-boheting is in fact so bad for us that 20% of all deaths in mians on the Heerengracht in Amsterdam as I type people over 35 can be attributed to our sedentary this) or even the time of working, but more about lifestyles. how the work is done in order to get the best results. Musculoskeletal disorders like back pain cost employers in the UK an astronomical £590 million to £624 million per year. So finding seating solutions (because sitting at work is after all unavoidable) that negates the detrimental effects of sitting is becoming increasingly important. And in a “results only work environment”, it is therefore OK for you to use anything or work in any way that helps you achieve the best level of productivity you can. With this in mind, manufacturers and designers put But what is agile working and how does it differ from their heads together to come up with office solutions all the other fad-words being thrown around in the that will help individuals perform better – and keep them healthier – whether they need to stand, sit, office these days? before, sitting is not good for your health, and being in a seated position for prolonged periods of time drastically reduces productivity. Thus, having a height-adjustable desk helps you be healthier whilst simultaneously working better. Mikomax’s Stand Up Desk is height adjustable from 650mm to 1250mm, which means it can be adjusted, with the flick of a switch, to fit everyone from the tallest to the shortest.  There is therefore, whether you like to sit or stand, work at a desk or move about, no excuse not to become agile in your working ways...