Requirements
The requirements for a height-adjustable desk refer to different characteristics of the desk and are defined by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. On the one hand, this includes the surface area of the desk, which should provide sufficient space for both areas when working in mixed work, i.e. working at the computer and at the desk. The minimum dimensions here are 160x80cm.
Depending on the type of computer monitor, the height-adjustable desk should also have sufficient depth (between 80 and 100cm). Of course, an ergonomic workstation should not have any sharp edges or corners. Further requirements for a height-adjustable desk, which should prevent one-sided posture and musculoskeletal disorders, are an adjustability in height from 68 to 118cm, so that work can be done in standing or sitting position.
These desks are often expensive to buy, but it has been shown that a desk and an additional standing desk do not have the same effect, as they are often used for other purposes (filing etc.). If it is not possible to purchase a standing/sitting desk, the desk should at least be adaptable to the workstation owner (65 to 85cm). Sufficient legroom is another requirement for the height-adjustable desk.
Shelves for stowing away should therefore not be fixed to the desk, but flexibly moveable, for example by using roll containers. Cables should also be laid in such a way that they do not restrict the working area of the height-adjustable desk. Temperatures increase and performance decreases?
Many employees ask themselves what their rights are in this situation. Some companies now offer electrically operated, height-adjustable desks. This has the advantage that the user of the workstation can comfortably adjust the height that is suitable for him and does not have to crank the desk.
Changing the height can also be done at the touch of a button and can be done while making a phone call, for example. Some height-adjustable desks that are electrically operated have the advantage of a memory function. So once the user has found the right height for him or her, whether standing or sitting, he or she can save these heights in a similar way to radio stations and thus change them easily without having to remember centimeters or steps.
This also makes it easier for different users to share the desk, as different profiles are stored and can be called up. The purchase of a height-adjustable desk is supported by the state and is legally regulated by the “Rehabilitation for participation in working life”. An ergonomic workplace is intended to prevent early retirement and improve existing health problems.
However, various conditions must be met for this to happen. These include, of course, a predominantly sedentary job; any existing health problems that make long periods of sitting difficult or impossible and which a doctor can certify; and the employer’s agreement to allow the use of a height-adjustable desk. The health insurance company may be able to support the purchase of a height-adjustable desk, but there are other payers who are responsible for occupational rehabilitation and to whom an application may be more successful. The health insurance company could support such an application as part of prevention, but does not have to.For this reason, applications for support in purchasing a height-adjustable desk should be addressed to the German Pension Insurance, the Employer’s Liability Insurance Association, the Integration Office or the Employment Agency – depending, of course, on the complaints and certain requirements that must be met for the institution in question. These can include the presence of a disability, an occupational disease, industrial accidents or the payment of several years into the pension fund.
