If you‘re too busy to workout, your priorities need to change.
I can‘t think of too many things more important than your health.
Rolsey
One topic that reaches me regularly is the question of working style and exhaustion.
Working in a production site with over 800 operators, some of them believe that their (manual) jobs are very challenging whereas office work means chilling all day long.
While it is undoubted that some work conditions can wear off the body in the long run, like repetitive and non-ergonomic heavy lifting or monotonous body movements, we should not forget to look for similar bad conditions or behaviors in office jobs.
Just as some operators lead unhealthy life and working styles that influence their bodies and health more severely than that of some direct colleagues with exactly the same conditions, the same holds true in the office.
What about people who sit all day long without getting up, taking breaks, and walking around? Will their backs be better off in the long run? Will they be well hydrated and eat good food during their busy days?
What about employees who feel such high work pressure or anxiety that they are never relaxed and don’t know how to help themselves but by multitasking constantly and running in their hamster wheel?
Mental health issues are still on the rise and will cost organizations maybe more than any other ergonomic-related sickness. And, as we know, these absences are rather long-term and also not cured over night.
I don’t want to go into too much detail and comparison, but I see the need to create the awareness that long-term sicknesses can be just as severe in the office as they are in production environments. And that we all should not only focus on improving ergonomics and work conditions for operators, but for all departments and employee types.
Let’s get rid of that unbalanced picture of the hard-working operator versus lazy and comfortable office person.
Let’s approach work settings individually, talk with the people who actually do the job. Ask them how they feel and what they need and adapt to their priorities as much as possible.
Let’s create a culture where we care for each other and don’t want people to wear off over the years.
PS: No, I am not in favor of staying at home with the lightest symptoms of a cold. Don‘t confuse health prioritization with laziness.
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