[TerryL]

I am having issues at work because the setup is not ergonomic for me. I am small and none of the chairs can crank up high enough so my arm is elevated when it should be more level. My desk is also too high. All that plus having to do a lot of data entry with a mouse (which I have always felt was an unergonomic design) is hurting my arm. There is also no light above my desk. My employer suggested I buy a desk lamp but she did not offer to pay for it. I could move desks but the area by the new desk does not have a window shade so it would be too hot. have tried seat cushions for the chair problem but they did not help enough. All this can all be fixed but who should foot the cost of that? My employer or me? None of my coworkers have these issues.

[reb569]

My thought, from gut instinct, is the employer. They should want their employees to have a working environment that is not going to cause back pain, carpal tunnel, etc.

The employer should definitely be paying for an ergonomic setup. They are liable for any injuries that occur on the job as the direct result of a poor setup. I suffered a wrist injury at work because of just that reason, and the employer had to pay for workman's compensation and make accommodations for me at work with my setup. Don't let this escalate to an injury, and it very likely could -- not to scare you, but this is important and necessary. Do you have a Human Resources department you can approach about it?

[rechu]

I agree, it should be the employer, because you risk an on-the-job injury with things set up as they are now.

I am not sure how it works at your employer, but where I am we actually have a health and safety committee you can go to for things like that. One co-worker had his desk by this window where there was a lot of glare reflecting from another building in the morning, so much that it was bothering his eyes. He went to the committee and they got a shade installed in a few days.

[TerryL]

Originally Posted by golden_eve

The employer should definitely be paying for an ergonomic setup. They are liable for any injuries that occur on the job as the direct result of a poor setup. I suffered a wrist injury at work because of just that reason, and the employer had to pay for workman's compensation and make accommodations for me at work with my setup. Don't let this escalate to an injury, and it very likely could -- not to scare you, but this is important and necessary. Do you have a Human Resources department you can approach about it?

no, there is no hr dept. it is a very small company. only 4 of us.

[TerryL]

i talked more with the boss and she is going to try different things to try to make things better. i will probably buy my own touchpad keyboard though so i can take it with me if i ever leave this company. tk you everyone.

[rechu]

Having no HR department can make it more complicated, so I'm glad your boss is willing to work on finding a solution.

[Gus1234U]

if you live in America, there is a federal/state agency called the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation that can pay for work-related equipment, even if you are already employed. be aware that they are overwhelmed and under funded, and the application/waiting period rivals that of the V.A. (looooooong). still, they might be able to refer you to an Independent Living Center in your area that is much faster, tho poor, which would know of possible office equipment donors..

[Shazerac]

Technically the employer should pay. That doesn't always happen in a small company. Before you buy anything though....... I would make it understood with your employer that anything you buy to make you workspace more ergonomic is your personal property and will take it with you if you leave that job.

[ErgoArtemis]

That is a funny but tricky question. I think it is just natural that you company will have to take care of their employees to make sure that they feel comfortable and come back again the next day. (haha) I bet it is just natural to give you a comfy chair, water, office supplies, some biscuits and water…etc.

The serious way is to discuss it with Human Resources. A chair will not cause a company to pack up and liquidate anytime soon, hopefully. The real question is, can you? No? But there’s a slightly fiendish way…

You said that there are only 4 of you in the office, then it will be much better to try to ask for your boss about it with pure subtlety. Try to touch him from their human side. Maybe suck up to him a bit. That is what I usually do. It may start with a joke or a pun but you can really build up on it to take it seriously. You also can test the waters how generous he is! If this is successful, you might even get more than what the boss might give. Just do not give your boss too many options though, some bosses suck at choosing and choosing on time.