January 1, 2003—Ergonomic workstations are one way to help employees with arthritis cope in the workplace, according to a study funded by Canadas Arthritis Society. The study showed that employees who made simple adjustments to their workstations were two and a half times less likely to be work disabled, yet only one third of the respondents made any type of workstation modification.
Initial results of a similar study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) showed that little changes such as stretching every half hour or taking a moment to relax can make a noticeable improvement in productivity.
The CIHR study shows that Canadians with arthritis are giving up breaks to complete tasks, using sick days, and sacrificing vacation time to recuperate at home in order to continue working. Thirty per cent of the study participants said they must plan their day carefully to manage their arthritis at work, including rearranging tasks, giving up breaks to complete work, resting during lunch hours, and opting out of social activities.
In response to these initial results, The Arthritis Society is launching Arthritis in the Workplace, a new program designed to help people with arthritis and their employers better manage the disease.
For copies of the Arthritis in the Workplace brochure and/or more information about related resources, contact The Canadian Arthritis Society or call 800/321-1433.
