Sitting healthily at the office – myth vs. reality

Is a good office chair enough for healthy working? The honest answer: Yes and no. A good chair is an important foundation – but it doesn't solve the problem on its own. And what "good" means is more individual than most companies realise.

In practice, I regularly experience decision-makers choosing a chair that is aesthetically pleasing or offers good value for money – and then assuming that's all there is to it. It isn't.

Why sitting healthily is often misunderstood

The misunderstanding begins with the word "sitting" itself. Healthy sitting isn't a state – it's a movement. Anyone who sits for eight hours in the same chair in the same position is having a bad day for their back, no matter how expensive the chair was.

Furthermore, an office chair is not a standard product. Ms Müller, 52 kg, 1.60 m, needs a different chair than Mr Meyer, 110 kg, 1.90 m. This is not a question of price or design – it is a question of body geometry, the nature of the complaint, and the activity.

I understand the desire of many companies for a uniform look in the office. That's precisely why we developed the Warth Hauschair programme: four to five chairs that visually match, but meet very different requirements in terms of features and customisation. All models are in stock here in Trier – no long waiting times, no surprises.

Dynamic vs. static sitting – the crucial difference

The human body is not designed for prolonged static sitting. Intervertebral discs have no blood supply of their own – they are supplied with nutrients through movement. Anyone who sits motionless for hours is harming themselves – regardless of their sitting position.

Good office chairs support dynamic sitting: the backrest moves with you, springs back, adjusts. And herein lies one of the most common mistakes I see in offices:

The backrest is fixed.

Understandable – many initially perceive the flexibility as instability. But a fixed backrest turns even the best chair into a problem. The solution isn't fixation, but the correct adjustment of the counter-spring tension to the user's body weight. Then the backrest flexes comfortably without tipping away. That's the difference between a chair that is irritating and a chair that works.

Integrating exercise into the workday – specific tips

A good chair alone is not enough. It only unfolds its effect in combination with conscious habits:

• Change your sitting position regularly: forwards, backwards, upright, leaning back – anything goes as long as you change it.
• Using height-adjustable desks: Not as a trend, but as a tool. Working standing up two to three times a day is already sufficient.
• Check screen height: The top of the screen should be at eye level. Too low means constantly lowering your head.
• Plan short standing breaks: make phone calls standing up, deliberately walk short distances, hold meetings while standing.
• Chair adjustment: Seat height, seat depth, armrests, counter-pressure – and then leave the backrest movable.

Practical example: What happens if everyone gets the same chair

I've seen customers get fixated on a single model – usually a highly customisable chair that works for 8 out of 10 employees. It's better than nothing, but the remaining 2 out of 10 are still sitting incorrectly.
My approach with new customers: I come to the company with a small pre-selection of chairs, explain the differences to each employee, individually adjust the chosen chair, make recommendations – and also advise against it if something isn't suitable. This might take about ten minutes per person. But these ten minutes decide whether a chair will function well for years or become a cause for complaint after three months.

Checklist: Is your team really sitting correctly?

• Is the seat height individually adjusted (feet flat on the floor)?
• Ist die Gegenfederkraft der Rückenlehne auf das Körpergewicht abgestimmt?
• Is the backrest adjustable (not fixed)?#
• Is the seat depth suitable for your height (approx. 3 fingers’ width from the back of the knee)?#
• Is the screen at eye level?#
• Do employees regularly change positions or only occasionally?

How Warth develops seating concepts

We don't sell chairs. We develop seating concepts that suit your team. This starts with a conversation – about team size, specific complaints, activities, and budget. This is followed by a pre-selection, a personal presentation at the customer's premises, and individual training for each employee.

Our house chair programme makes this feasible for companies of any size: a uniform appearance, individual fit, quick availability from stock in Trier. If you would like to know which chair suits which employee – please contact me. I will come to you.