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Your Job Dictates
Your Chair
Introduction
The “right” chair
A working classification of the kind of
office jobs based on shared characteristics
The “best fit” chair for each
job classification and how to use it
High Action High Interaction Jobs
High Action Low Interaction Jobs
Low Action High Interaction Jobs
Low Action Low Interaction Jobs
Guide to good posture
Conclusion
TABLE OF CONTENTS
P 03
P 04
P 05
P 09
P 09
P 10
P 11
P 12
P 13
P 14
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
High Action
High Interaction Jobs &
High Action
Low Interaction Jobs
P 06Action - Interaction
Matrix
P 07
P 08Low Action
High Interaction Jobs &
Low Action
Low Interaction Jobs
92.6% of workers consider
their chair to be vital for an
effective workspace.
Only 66.7% are
satisfied with their chairs.
INTRODUCTION
”
”: As reported in
workplace effectiveness
(1)measure, The Leesman Index
03
Office workers tend to spend a large portion of their workday
sitting. The work desk and the chair are the most used pieces of
work equipment. Of these, the work desk is usually static, leaving
the chair as the only dynamic or adjustable element of the work
ecosystem for most workers. It follows that the design of the chair
as well as the posture of the user, while seated, have a substantial
impact both on the musculoskeletal health of the individual and on
the ability of the individual to be productive at work. While chair
design has progressed, and more flexible, better supported, and
ergonomic chair designs are available, there has been relatively
little discussion about how different kinds of work influence the
decision of buying the apt chair. Godrej Interio’s Ergonomic
Research Cell set out to study the activities performed by the users
across organizations with the objective of clustering work basis the
interaction levels, tools used, screen time, etc.
In this Whitepaper, we will examine how office work can be classified into groups based on shared
characteristics. We will then see how different demands of work from each group can be better
addressed with specific kinds of chairs.
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
Sitting for long hours builds up stress in the lower
back, shoulders, arms, and even the legs. Today
the work scenario involves long hours at office,
increased screen time, and reduced physical
activity. Our study shows that 64% of the office
goers spend 9 hours a day seated, and the same
group spends close to 7 hours on their desktop and
laptop. Smart phone usage hours are even more.
Al l this , coupled with incorrect posture
compounds the stress. The spine and the back
muscles are especially stressed.
Ergonomic chair design has traditionally focused
on providing adequate support to the entire spine
and to create a better posture while seated.
Ergonomically designed chairs tend to include
features like:
Ÿ Adjustable seat height
Ÿ Adequate seat depth and width
Ÿ Lumbar support with adjustment
Ÿ Backrest of appropriate height and width with
potential adjustable angle
Ÿ Comfortable padding in the material
Ÿ Adjustable armrests that allow relaxing of the
shoulders
Ÿ Swivel capability
Ÿ Recline mechanism with Tilt Lock or Limiter
functions
In most offices, the workstations tend to be of
fixed height. This means that the height, back
support, and armrests of the chairs have to be
adjusted relative to the workstation for the
comfort of the users. In addition, users adjust the
distance of the chairs relat ive to their
workstations to maintain a comfortable work
posture. It is, however, noticeable that all the
features mentioned above relate to the physical
dimensions of the workers and how they relate to
the workplace. A crucial element missing here is
the work the users do.
Clearly, not all jobs are the same. Every
organization has different functions and different
roles. The nature of the role will dictates the range
of activities the user performs.
In the context of modern offices, this will comprise
a mix of Screen and Non- Screen tasks.
Ÿ Non-Screen Based tasks: Reading, writing,
telephone work, meetings, and conversations.
Ÿ Screen-based tasks: Interaction with the
Desktop, laptop, tablets, and input devices like
the keyboard, mouse, and smart phones.
Different roles demand / have a different mix of
screen and non-screen-based tasks. That apart,
different roles may also demand different range of
action, mobility and physical freedom. Given this
wide divergence in activities, it is apparent that
chair selection must consider not only the USER
but also the TASK he performs. The combination of
right chair and appropriate posture together will
reduce stress and improve the productivity of the
worker.
So, is there a logical way to classify job roles into a
few manageable categories? Then, based on an
analysis of the work and activity, can we define
the requirements they may have from their chairs?
THE “RIGHT” CHAIR?
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
04
A WORKING CLASSIFICATION OF THE KIND OF
OFFICE JOBS BASED ON SHARED CHARACTERISTICS
Our Workspace and Ergonomics Research cell
conducted an observational study of over 1000
office-goers. The observations were carried out
over a period of time and only those factors were
considered that were performed most regularly
over the course of, what could be considered a
normal day’s work. Considering the factors that
are most closely linked to the “Nature of Work” a
matrix was designed.
There are a variety of factors that can be
considered while trying to categorize the office
job. Based on the nature of work, the analysis
considered 4 parameters:
1. PEOPLE INTERACTION LEVEL – How much does
the job role demand communicating and
interacting with other job roles, functions, and
individuals?
2. ACTION INTERACTION LEVEL – How much does
the job role demand the individual be restricted to
specific postures and workstations? How do they
interact with the workspace ?
3. TOOL INTERACTION LEVEL – What is the mix of
screen and non-screen-based activities that the
individual must perform? What is the mix of tools
the individual is expected to use in the
performance of the allocated duties? This could be
a mix of screen-based tools and other special-
purpose tools, machines, and fixtures.
4. CONTACT TIME LEVEL : Hours of work – How
long is the individual required to work?
Backed by a deep understanding of Indian
workspaces and Anthropometry, we devised a
“User Action Interaction Matrix” that helps
classify workers into different categories and then
helps to determine the recommended features for
the chairs for each category. This “User Action
Interact ion Matr ix” is intended to help
organizations focus on the specific task demands
of individuals.
The analysis
based on
the nature
of work
01
02
03
04
People Interaction Level
Action Interaction Level
Tool Interaction Level
Contact Time Level
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
05
THIS MATRIX SUGGESTS
4 CATEGORIES OF USER ACTION
Let’s consider the kind of job roles that could fall
into each categorization and the demands of those roles.
HIG
HLO
W
LOW ACTION
INT
ER
AC
TIO
N
High on Screen High on Screen
Moderate on ScreenLow to moderate
exposure on Screen
Junior Management
ADMIN
Date Entry Operators
Middle Management
Creative Professionals
Design
IT Professionals
Sales
Marketing
On field technicians
CEOs
CXOs, Directions, MD
Decision Makers
Senior Management
HIGH
01
High
Action
High
Interaction
Jobs
02
High
Action
Low
Interaction
Jobs
03
Low
Action
High
Interaction
Jobs
04
Low
Action
Low
Interaction
Jobs
ACTION - INTERACTION MATRIX
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
06
This group involves work profiles like Sales,
Manufacturing, Service, Field Professionals,
and the likes where the individuals are not
bound to their desk all day, but instead move
in and out of their seat.
The range of activities in this category of
jobs combine both Screen and Non-Screen-
based activities. People Interaction is high -4
to 8 hours in a day. It is typically combined
with Non-Screen activities. These jobs
demand low to moderate computer activity.
This Screen activity includes responding to
emails, reporting, and data work. These
activities are typically in the office for a few
hours each day. The rest of their work day is
spent in travelling and in meetings at
external locations.
This group involves work profiles like
Creative professionals, IT professionals, and
middle management. The individuals in
these roles are typically required to perform
specific tasks or specific elemental pieces of
tasks by themselves rather than in groups.
The range of activities in this category of
jobs involves a mix of Screen and Non-Screen
activities. The Non-Screen activities include
reading, drawing, writing, and designing.
The work typically involves long hours of
seating and moderate gadget interaction.
These are jobs that largely restrict the
individual to their workstation and desk, but
which may require changing of postures
from activity to activity.
HIGH ACTION HIGH INTERACTION JOBS 01
HIGH ACTION LOW INTERACTION JOBS 02
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
07
This group involves Executive level work
profiles like CEOs, Directors, Business
Leaders, and Senior management. These
are typically roles that are tasked with
providing direction. Their mandate is to
drive strategy rather than personally
execute tasks.
The range of activities involves interactions,
meetings, discussions, reading with a mix of
writing, and the use of smart gadgets. Their
work posture is usually dynamic, coupled
with long hours of seating. These roles
mostly demand low computer activity but
may call for multiple gadget interactions
with portable devices like smartphones and
tablets.
This group involves work profiles including
individuals in junior management or people
handling operational level work, admin
staff, data-entry operators, computer
programmers, and some support group
functions. The nature of their work is desk-
based, dominated by heavy computer
activity along with lot of paper work. This
job role largely relies on desktops.
The range of activities involves long hours of
sitting in one posture. The tasks they
perform are repetitive in nature like filing,
typing and using I/O devices like the mouse.
LOW ACTION HIGH INTERACTION JOBS03
LOW ACTION LOW INTERACTION JOBS04
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
08
HIGH ACTION HIGH INTERACTION JOBS
Feature 3
Lower Back Support /
Seat Depth Adjustment
Feature 2 Feature 1 Feature 4
Midback Chair Multiple Back
Recline
Seat Height
Adjustment
Nature of Work
Light to moderate computer activity, use of laptop,
desktop & smartphone Tool Usage
Not bound to their desks all day, keep moving in and out of the desk Hours of work
Reading , Typing, using Mouse , Interaction & meetings
in different space (conference rooms, clients office)Range of Activities
Work Profile Sales, Manufacturing , Service, On field & Operating Functions
Interaction level
High
High
Action level
Mechanism Suggested
Recommended Feature
Advance Synchro Tilt mechanism
Po
stu
re R
eco
mm
en
da
tio
ns
³ Adjust Seat Height to ensure thigh is parallel to the ground & feet placed well supported
on ground.
³ Adjust seat depth for maximum thigh support
³ Adjust tilt Tension to provide adequate support to upper back while reclining.
³ Adjust armrest to support forearms while working.
³ Change Posture after every 35-40 minutes
³ Look for variable posture change options like standing desk, Recliners etc.
The seating required in this category is for a specific Task. These chairs would demand mid-
back support. They should ideally be equipped with good lumbar support and allow multiple
recline options. This will help relieve the stress from the user’s back as they recline periodically.
It is clear that each job role places different demands
on the body of the individuals as they perform their
tasks. This suggests that the chairs for these roles
should also be equipped with the specific features
that could best support the individuals.
The “best fit” chair
for each job classification
and how to use it
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
09
HIGH ACTION LOW INTERACTION JOBS
Mechanism Suggested
Recommended Feature
Advance Synchro Tilt mechanism
Feature 3
3 D / 2D
Armrest
Feature 2 Feature 1 Feature 4
3 Dimensional
Movement
Seat Height
Adjustment
Seat depth
Adjustment
Nature of Work
Moderate gadget interaction ( desktop/laptop/smartphone/ipad)Tool Usage
Long hours of sitting and mix of screen and non screen activitiesHours of work
Reading, typing, using mouse. Drawing /writing etcRange of Activities
Work Profile Creative professionals, IT professionals , Middle management
Interaction level
High
Low
Action level
Po
stu
re R
eco
mm
en
da
tio
ns ³ Adjust Seat Height to ensure thigh is parallel to the ground & feet placed well supported
on ground.
³ Adjust seat depth for maximum thigh support
³ Adjust armrest features as per activity for maximum forearm support
³ Change posture after every 35-40 minutes
³ Look for variable posture change options like standing desk, Bean bags , poofs etc
As we have seen, these are jobs which are
essentially desk based but that require
changing of postures from activity to activity.
The demand thus is for multi-task seating that
adapts to the different postures of the users
and long hours of seating. The chairs should
ideally provide good mid-back support.
Specifically, the chairs for this category should
be equipped with adjustable armrest and
seating features. Armrests with the potential of
2 or 3 dimensional variations that provide good
shoulder and forearm support would be
necessary. An advanced seating feature that
would support the individuals in this category is
three dimensional axial movement. This is an
active seating concept. The aim is to help the
user move, even while seated. This will help
relieve fatigue and stress in the users.
These features should be coupled with dynamic
seating options like poofs, beanbags, and
standing desks.
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
10
Light to moderate computer activity, use of laptop, desktop & smartphone Tool Usage
Bound to their desks all day, keep moving in and out of the desk Hours of work
Range of Activities
Management
Interaction level
Low
High
Action level
CXOs, Directors & Senior Management
Interactions, meetings, discussions, reading with a mix of writing
and the use of smart gadgets
LOW ACTION HIGH INTERACTION JOBS
This category demands high-performance
seating with advance mechanisms to support
user body and dynamic work postures.
This range should be equipped with adjustable
features to support all the contact points of the
body in the functional range. Features like a
high-back with neck support, seat depth,
armrests, seat height, and lumbar supports
should be adjustable.
This could be coupled with active bio-synchro
mechanisms for maximum impact. The active
bio-synchro mechanism gets activated
automatically in response to the shifting weight
of the user. It keeps the back in the correct
posture regardless of the user’s weight or
seating position. It allows up to 5-degrees of a
range of movement for the recline with a tilt
limiter. This mechanism & the other features will
enable the individual to sit in more relaxed
postures and will support the body throughout
all these activities.
Nature of Work
Mechanism Suggested
Recommended Feature
Advance Synchro Tilt mechanism
Po
stu
re R
eco
mm
en
da
tio
ns
Feature 3
Armrest
Adjustment
Feature 2 Feature 1 Feature 4
Multiple Back
Recline
High Back Chair Seat depth
Adjustment
³ Adjust Seat Height to ensure thigh is parallel to the ground & feet placed well supported
on ground.
³ Adjust seat depth for maximum thigh support
³ Adjust tilt Tension to provide adequate support to upper back while reclining.
³ Adjust armrest to support forearms while working.
³ Change Posture after every 35-40 minutes
³ Look for variable posture change options like standing desk, Poofs , Beanbag etc.
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
11
LOW ACTION LOW INTERACTION JOBS
In this category, the work posture involves long
hours of seating in one position. Any movement
is mostly within the flexion range with more
stress on the back, wrist, and knees.
The chairs in this groups should be equipped
with a centre-tilt mechanism. Here the seat and
back are fixed together and the whole
structure moves together in the same direction.
This provides constant body support and
pressure relief. Upright locking should be
considered as it supports the posture of the
individual while working on the desktop. This
provides good back support and allows the
individual to adjust the seat height as per one’s
own height.
3-Dimensional axial seating, which promotes
the active seating concept, can also be
considered for this category as it allows breaks
from the, otherwise, static posture.
Nature of Work
Mechanism Suggested
Recommended Feature
Center tilt
Posture Recommendations
Feature 3
Midback /
Lowback Chair
Feature 2 Feature 1 Feature 4
Seat Height
Adjustment
Arm Rest
adjustment
Cushioned
/ Mesh Chair
(task specific)
³ Adjust Seat Height to ensure thigh is parallel to the ground & feet placed well supported
on ground.
³ Adjust armrest to support forearms while working.
³ Change Posture after every 35-40 minutes.
Heavy computer activity, use of mostly desktop Tool Usage
Bound to their desks all dayHours of work
Range of Activities
Management
Interaction level
Low
Low
Action level
Junior management - Admin / Data entry operators
Long sitting, typing & using mouse
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
12
For all 4 groups, it is important for the
organization, to adopt the correct workstation
arrangement. As mentioned earlier, the height
of the workstations tends to be fixed in most
workplaces. It, thus, becomes important to
place the chair appropriately to ensure
maximum support, support correct posture, and
minimize stress. Here are some quick tips to
ensure that the chair is placed appropriately
from the workstation.
³ The chair height should be such that the
elbows should be at close to 90 degrees.
³ The thighs should be slightly raised (finger
width) at the leading edge of the chair. This
ensures that the feet are placed correctly on
the ground and the chair height is apt.
³ There should be a small gap between the
leading edge of the chair and the calves while
seated all the way back in the chair. This
GUIDE TO GOOD POSTURE
ensures the most appropriate depth of the
seat.
³ The lower back should be forming a slight
inward arch while seated all the way into the
chair.
³ The screen should be at eye level when the
head is looking straight ahead.
³ The armrests should hold the arms such that
the shoulders are loose and just slightly raised.
For individuals, it is important to adopt the correct ergonomic seating posture. It is also
important to take postural breaks every 35-40 minutes along with desktop or spine
stretches.
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
13
In the modern office, employee comfort is an
essential prerequisite to guaranteeing their
overall health and wellness and to driving
productivity. Providing comfort is not about
buying the best or the most expensive
equipment out there but rather about
providing each individual the support that is
most likely to help that individual achieve
their goals. Office chairs are the most
dynamic and highly-utilized piece of office
equipment and they are subject to the same
rationale.
Chairs that are designed to help each
individual as they perform their specific jobs
are more likely to deliver impact because they
address the specific demands their roles
place on their bodies. The “User Action
Analysis Matrix” provides a convenient
framework to place the roles that individuals
perform into different categories and this
helps organizations better understand the
CONCLUSION
nature of the chairs that will provide the
individuals in those jobs the support they
need.
The “best fit” chair plays a key role, but it is
only a part of the entire workplace ecosystem.
It is also important to maintain a good
posture and follow the recommended best
pract ices whi le work ing. This i s the
combination that will ensure a stress-free and
productive workplace.
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
14
References : 1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business
/scaling-up/staples/how-bad-office-chairs-cost-uk-plc/
This paper represents the opinions of the authors and is the product of professional research. This report has
been prepared for the exclusive use and benefit of the addressee(s) and solely for the purpose for which it is
provided. Unless we provide express prior written consent, no part of this report should be reproduced or
distributed. While every attempt is made to ensure that the information contained in this document is true to its
best. However, Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., its employees, representatives, affiliates or any of its divisions,
etc. shall not be responsible for any reliance made on this paper or for any errors / omissions in information
obtained from the source while preparing this paper.
ABOUT GODREJ INTERIO
Godrej Interio (GI) is India’s leading furniture brand in both the home and institutional
segments. GI aims to transform spaces to create brighter homes and offices with aesthetic,
functional, and technology-driven products that retain a special focus on health and
ergonomics. GI’s product portfolio covers:
I. B2B –Office Modular Furniture, Turnkey Projects, Healthcare Furniture, Lab Furniture, AV
and Vending Solutions
ii. B2C –Home Furniture & Storage, Mattress, and Kitchens
GI is widely known for its comprehensive sustainability certifications for furniture products.
Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive showrooms and 800 dealers, GI is
one of the largest divisions of Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the Godrej Group, one
of India's largest engineering and customer product groups.
More information is at https://www.godrejinterio.com/Godrejinterio/index.aspx
Your Job Dictates Your Chair
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