While office ergonomics is a relatively small portion of our overall practice, it provides one of the clearest demonstrations of how ergonomics improves both comfort and performance. In this article, I want to share what we have learned from recent office ergonomics assessments and explain why the outcomes matter to HR and Safety leaders.
Why We Started Measuring “Performance Impact”
We have always surveyed employees about discomfort to help interpret what we see and measure during assessments. Recently, we added optional, confidential questions to better understand how discomfort influences productivity, work quality, and engagement. These performance questions are not included in the individual assessment reports. Instead, they support research to determine whether ergonomics changes anything beyond comfort.
We collect a baseline survey before the assessment and invite the employee to complete a confidential follow-up later; in 2025 our team completed over 100 office assessments. While not every employee returns the follow-up, in 2025 we received 18 completed surveys that included the optional performance metrics. It is reasonable to assume that those still experiencing some discomfort may be more likely to respond—so these results are even more compelling.
What Changed After Office Ergonomics Assessments?
Comfort improvements
It was no surprise to see significant reductions in discomfort across nearly every body area. These improvements were statistically significant, reinforcing that structured office ergonomics assessments meaningfully reduce pain and strain.
But what about performance?
Productivity
When asked, “How would you rate your current productivity?”, employees reported an average score of 7.8/10 before their assessment. Follow-up responses increased to 9.3/10, representing a 19% improvement.
For Managers and HR leaders, this is significant. If nearly one-fifth more productivity could be unlocked simply by addressing workstation ergonomics, what would that mean for output, workload capacity, and operational efficiency?
Quality
Employees rated work quality at 7.9/10 before their assessment, improving to 8.1/10 afterward—a 3% improvement. While smaller than productivity, this still suggests that when people move and feel better, they can sustain focus and accuracy.
Engagement and Retention
Our engagement question asked employees how likely they were to stay in their job for at least another year. Baseline engagement averaged 6.5/10. Follow-up responses averaged 9.1/10—a 40% increase.
For HR, this is one of the most powerful outcomes. Retention is expensive. Recruitment is expensive. Lost knowledge is expensive. Improving the likelihood that employees will stay—from 65% to 91%—is a strategic win.
Why this matters for HR and Safety Leaders
These results reinforce something we have long believed:
Ergonomics is not simply about comfort or compliance. It is a business strategy.
Investing in office ergonomics supports:
- Reduced discomfort and injury risk
- Higher productivity
- Improved work quality
- Stronger engagement and retention
- A healthier, safer, more supported workforce
When employees feel better, they perform better—and they stay longer.
What’s next?
We are applying similar research methods to:
- Industrial ergonomics assessments
- Microlearning (hands-on, practical ergonomics training)
- Workplace activity programs (stretch/strength/mobility and more – © Move-it!)
Our pilot microlearning and Move-it stats have been very positive. We believe we’ll see the same trends in industry, but industrial interventions take longer to implement, and surveys are more challenging to administer. We are patient and persistent.
If your organization needs office ergonomics assessments, you can book an individual assessment through our online store, or contact Carrie@TaylordErgo.com for a quote for multiple assessments.
If you would like to build internal capability, we also offer a one-day office ergonomics training course, available in Cambridge or delivered onsite for groups of up to 12.