National Ergonomics Month is observed every October. It exists to draw attention to how work setups affect comfort and health, and for most offices that comes down to three things: the chair, the work surface and the screen.
You do not need a consultant to make real improvements. You need a checklist, about ten minutes per desk and a clear idea of when an adjustment is enough and when the furniture itself is the problem.
The office ergonomics checklist
Walk through each item with the person who uses the desk. Adjust in order, because each step depends on the one before it. Chair first, then surface, then screen.
1. Chair
- Seat height: feet flat on the floor or a footrest, thighs roughly parallel to the floor.
- Seat depth: two to four fingers of space between the seat edge and the back of the knees.
- Lumbar support: the curve of the backrest sits in the small of the back.
- Recline and tension: the backrest supports a slight recline without pushing the person forward.
- Armrests: shoulders relaxed, arms supported lightly, armrests not blocking the desk.
2. Work surface
- Height: elbows near 90 degrees with forearms level when typing.
- Keyboard and mouse: close together, directly in front, wrists straight.
- Legroom: no drawers, bins or modesty panels pressing on knees.
- Reach: phone, notepad and frequently used items within easy arm reach.
3. Screen
- Distance: about an arm's length away.
- Height: top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.
- Position: centered on the person, or split evenly for dual monitors.
- Glare: screen perpendicular to windows where possible.
4. Movement
- Posture changes during the day, whether by standing, walking or stretching.
- Sit-stand users have both heights set, not just the sitting height.
Score your office in one pass
Use a simple scoring grid to prioritize spending. Mark each desk and total the results.
| Result | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Passes after adjustment | Furniture is capable, settings were off | Share adjustment tips with the user |
| Chair fails | Missing or broken adjustments | Replace with a fully adjustable task chair |
| Surface fails | Wrong fixed height or no legroom | Add a keyboard tray or a sit-stand option |
| Both fail | Workstation is not usable ergonomically | Replace the station and chair together |
If the chair is what fails, start there. It is usually the easiest and least expensive piece to replace.
Upgrading chairs at resale prices
Commercial task chairs from brands like Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, Humanscale and Knoll are designed for years of daily use and wide adjustment ranges. That makes them strong candidates for reuse. Buying pre-owned lets you put a genuinely adjustable chair at every desk for less than new.
When evaluating a pre-owned chair, check:
- Condition grade: A like new, B very good, C good.
- Every mechanism: height, depth, tilt, tension, lumbar and arms should all move and lock.
- Cylinder: the seat holds its height under weight.
- Upholstery and mesh: no tears or sagging at the seat front edge.
- Casters: right type for your flooring.
Office Station sells pre-owned furniture as an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer. Manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned pieces, so an in-person or detailed condition review matters.
Adding sit-stand options
If surface height is failing across the office, consider sit-stand options in the workstation plan. They solve the fixed-height problem for users of different sizes and support movement during the day.
You do not have to convert every desk at once. Many offices start with shared or hot-desk stations, where the range of users is widest. Pre-owned and remanufactured workstation furniture keeps that affordable. For reference, a 6'x6' workstation is $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured or $1,920 new, furniture only, excluding electrical, delivery and installation. Ask about sit-stand availability when you request a quote.
Ergonomics at shared and hybrid desks
Hot desks are where ergonomics breaks down fastest. Each person sits down to settings left by the last user, and most people will not stop to readjust. A few habits close that gap:
- Choose chairs with intuitive, clearly labeled controls so a quick adjustment actually happens.
- Use monitor arms at shared stations so screen height changes in seconds.
- Keep a footrest available for shorter users at fixed-height desks.
- Walk new hybrid staff through the checklist once, on their first day in the office.
Make the month count
- Run the checklist with every employee, including hybrid staff at shared desks.
- Post a one-page adjustment guide at hot-desk areas.
- Replace failed chairs first, then address surfaces.
- Recheck setups after moves or furniture changes.
- If you are replacing old chairs and stations, have the old furniture evaluated for liquidation so it is resold rather than thrown away.
Need help planning the upgrade? Browse pre-owned office furniture, read more guides or email hello@officestation.com.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Ergonomics Month?
National Ergonomics Month is observed in October. Many organizations use it as a reminder to review workstation setups, share adjustment tips with staff and budget for furniture upgrades. You can run the checklist on this page at any time of year.
What adjustments should a good ergonomic task chair have?
Look for seat height, seat depth, adjustable lumbar support, adjustable arms and a tilt or recline tension control. Seat depth and arm adjustment are the features most often missing on budget chairs. Shared desks especially benefit from chairs that adjust quickly for different people.
Are pre-owned ergonomic chairs a good value?
They can be. Many well-known task chairs are built for long commercial use, so a pre-owned chair in good condition can still adjust properly. Check the condition grade and test every mechanism, and keep in mind that manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.
Do I need a sit-stand desk for good ergonomics?
Not strictly, but the option to change posture during the day helps many people. The key is setting both sitting and standing heights correctly so elbows stay near 90 degrees. A sit-stand option used well beats one that stays locked at a single height.
How often should workstation ergonomics be reviewed?
Review a setup whenever someone new uses the desk, after a move or furniture change, and when anyone reports discomfort. An annual check, such as during National Ergonomics Month, catches setups that have drifted over time.
