Already 25 years ago, Aeris brought movement into sitting by developing a Hi-Tec movement technology and thereby revolutionized the working world. But modern health standards are still lacking, especially in the home office. Especially when it comes to the topic of "New Work", a rethink is therefore needed.
Is what we've accomplished at Aeris so far a cause for celebration? For Aeris and everyone who uses an Aeris product: Yes. But what is the "movement situation" in offices and home offices in general? Is there less back pain? Are there fewer diseases of civilization? Is there more movement in everyday life? Unfortunately, no. On the contrary.
That's why there is an urgent need for a rethink on the subject of "New Work. Increasing digitization is rapidly and fundamentally changing the world of work. Many activities have become location-independent. Working in a home office has become the norm for many. However, this leads to even less movement in everyday life.
Home office lacks health standards
In the home office - in contrast to the classic office - nothing is regulated in terms of health. The technical equipment is mostly ok, but the human equipment is very often inadequate. Our large Aeris home office study has shown:
- 64 percent of employees complain of health problems caused by working from home.
- For 54 percent of respondents, the office furniture in the home office is significantly worse than in the company.
- More than one in three take fewer breaks or eat on the side.
- Many employees organize their workday at home much differently than they do in the office. The result: less movement in between and more time in front of the computer overall.
The negative effects of not getting enough exercise in the home office show up after just a few months.
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Josef Glöckl
Managing Director Aeris GmbH
Aeris CEO, Josef Glöckl, warns: "Those who managed at least 2 - 3,000 steps of the recommended 10,000 per day before Corona, often only manage less than 1,000 steps with home office. For example, the walk to the car or bus, the way to the office, to colleagues, to the cafeteria and many more are missing. What's really scary about this is that the negative effects of too little exercise in the home office are clear and become apparent after just a few months." And he warns that the long-term effects will be unaffordable for each individual, as well as for our healthcare and pension systems in the long run.
Aeris CEO Josef Glöckl warns of the long-term consequences of lack of exercise. /small>
Employers must enable hybrid working between office and home office
So what is the solution for the future? Should everyone just go back to the office and give up the freedoms and individual benefits of the home office? Aeris says: No! Our approach to "new work" - hybrid working. A hybrid work model meshes all the benefits of the traditional office with those of the home office and location-independent working. This enables a better balance between job and family, individual work arrangements and significantly more creativity. It also makes ecological sense: commuter traffic is reduced, thus saving Co2.
Ideal: better dovetailing between office and home office
According to Aeris, the solution lies in this better dovetailing of home office and office work. Because the stationary office also has a great added value compared to working on the road or at home. It offers space for communication, promotes social interaction, strengthens the sense of belonging among the workforce, creates identity and stimulates creativity. These are all important factors for well-being and performance. You can only have this kind of exchange with each other in the office.
A hybrid work model enables a better balance between job and family. /small>
The focus is on individualized workplace solutions. Everywhere.
According to Patrick Wurm, Aeris Chief Growth Officer, we shouldn't be asking "What does the office or home office of the future need to look like?" It's better we ask, "What does each individual employee need to stay physically and mentally fit, motivated and productive?" A new set of rules must be created that is individually tailored to each person! With one goal: to achieve more physical and mental exercise. For example, through movement-promoting active chairs and individualizable movement concepts.
To highlight the lack of exercise, Aeris is shaking things up with a Europe-wide brand campaign. With this campaign in a new language and design style, we are even more aggressively standing up for our vision of a life in motion and for the compatibility of lifestyle, ergonomics and health.
"Only companies that manage to keep their employees physically and mentally active, and thus healthy and motivated, will remain competitive in the long term," Aeris boss Josef Glöckl is certain. And he adds: "At Aeris, all employees use our active products right from the start, which automatically promote both. I think that's a nice proof - and makes me very optimistic for the future."
