Ergonomic Workspace in the School Library

August 22, 2023 11:05 AM

I am meeting with HR today to get a more ergonomic workspace. I am looking for product recommendations and space recommendations.

I am meeting with HR because I have been experiencing neck and shoulder strain (feel like I am scrunching my shoulders/not holding my head up correctly) mostly from working at my desk.

The desk itself is a very long piece of wood that is built in and probably can't really be altered much. Chair is a standard office chair (I use the arms but they can lift up out of the way). I feel like I rest my elbows on the arms and my elbows are below my wrists when I type. I have a macbook that I have raised up on this drawer thing -- no proper stand or any kind. It's my only monitor. I have a standalone wireless Apple keyboard and a new Logitech mouse w/ right and left buttons and a track wheel thing that I can move forward and backward (I am not used to it yet and still figuring out how it works). Also, there's no hole in the back of the desk so my charger cable connects to the side of the computer and runs down the front of the desk to the surge protector--I feel like I'm always running into/over it when I move my chair around and it's very annoying.

I saw this https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/7-things-you-need-for-an-ergonomically-correct-workstation/ article -- what do you think about it? I think my workplace will buy things to make my space more comfortable for me, but not sure they'll splurge on a chair that's over $1,000.

I also have a standalone small desk that can raise/lower but I don't always like working at it.

Last, sometimes I carry my laptop around with me to help students find books in the catalog. I sometimes do this sitting next to them at a table or on the standing desk-thing. I am thinking of trying to do it with an ipad instead because it's lighter.

This may sound disjointed but I am meeting with HR at 1:00 and welcome any/all thoughts to have a more comfortable space that eases my shoulder/neck strain especially. Thanks!

posted by bookworm4125 to Work & Money (7 answers total)

Response by poster: I also especially notice my setup being hard and uncomfortable on my wrists. Thanks.
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:46 AM on August 22, 2023

External monitor for sure! You need to keep your head up instead of looking down or hunching, the height of your monitor/screen is the critical piece. The new mouse and keyboard should help with the wrist pain, but you can definitely ask for a mouse pad with a cushioned rest or even just a separate wrist rest pad.
posted by spamandkimchi at 11:57 AM on August 22, 2023

You can easily get that chair for less than $600. Never pay full price for a fancy office chair, startups go out of business all the time.
posted by bowbeacon at 11:59 AM on August 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific ergonomic keyboard that works with a macbook?I think mine is just the standard standalone bluetooth apple accessory one.
posted by bookworm4125 at 1:32 PM on August 22, 2023

Using a mouse gives me tendinitis. I use as many keyboard shortcuts as possible. My Thinkpad has a trackpad that is easier on my wrists than a mouse. Inhave used Macs as a daily ciomputer; even a very skilled Mac specialist agreed that Macs are more mouse-intensive.

Drill a big hole in the desktop for cables or thread the power bar up the side to the desktop; thats's a safety issue, you are likely to trip, or a cable may fray.
posted by theora55 at 1:38 PM on August 22, 2023

I just had an ergonomic consultation for my office today. The thing that jumped out at me wrist-wise is that your hands when typing should be slightly lower than your elbows rather than above them. I'd definitely suggest an external monitor too.
posted by kbuxton at 3:23 PM on August 22, 2023

I mounted a sliding keyboard drawer with mouse tray under my desk and it has vastly improved my ergonomics. Could you attach something like that to your desk?
posted by platinum at 7:43 PM on August 22, 2023