Five mistakes to avoid when purchasing office furniture

Looks and price are not the only criteria to consider when buying new office furniture. Before taking that final leap, some practical questions should be considered. While a piece may be appealing or well-priced, no one wants to saddle the office with the wrong choice of furniture or send employees home from work with an aching neck or back.

A thoroughly researched purchase will increase employee well-being and, therefore, productivity, and result in a better bottom line and higher job satisfaction.

 

Mistake #1: Failure to plan

The longer you take to plan improvements or new accessories for your workspace, the better the results will be. You should therefore draw up a detailed list of your needs before looking around. Budgets, deadlines, coordination with construction work, the furniture’s intended use, and ergonomic requirements are just some of the points to consider during the planning process.

 

Mistake #2: Ignoring employees’ concerns

Taking into consideration employees’ tasks and their ergonomic comfort is vital to their productivity. The more effort you put into meeting the specific requirements of complex tasks, the greater the need to consult with the employees concerned. Think about how different the ergonomic needs of a call centre are from those of a clinic, for example.

 

Mistake #3: Passing up on adjustable furniture

Since office employees come in many different shapes and sizes, companies benefit by selecting furniture that comes with easy and intuitive adjustment features. Not only do the benefits of using ergonomic products far outweigh the costs, this type of furniture can suit the greatest number of employees regardless of the size of the company or the industry.

 

Mistake #4: Going for the cheapest product line

It’s very tempting to choose the cheapest product, especially during times of austerity or when competition is heavy. Choosing price over intrinsic value often leads to unpleasant surprises, such as more defects and shorter warranties. Not surprisingly, cheaper furniture is less efficient, and so are its users.

 

Mistake #5: Playing expert

Companies make quick changes to suit demand or to adjust to the waxing and waning of different technologies. Young employees are comfortable with sustainable development, social networks, runaway globalization and other new developments and demand new ways of working. Ignore this fact at your peril.

It’s hard to keep up with developments in all these areas without making serious mistakes. Given the time crunches and performance requirements you face, isn’t it better to call on the experts for help instead of playing expert yourself?