Your office is designed for men — 4 things women need to work comfortably

1 2 minutes read

The battle of the sexes has reached the workplace.

The office environment plays a crucial role in productivity, and it seems that men have the upper hand when spending eight hours a day in the office.

However, women can enhance their well-being by making simple adjustments to boost focus, energy, and overall performance during the 9 to 5 grind.

Office spaces tend to be designed for men — but women can enhance their comfort and productivity with a few simple swaps. Halfpoint – stock.adobe.com

The one-size-fits-all approach to office design does not cater to women’s needs, as they require different considerations than men for comfortable workspaces. According to board-certified ergonomist and Global Vice President of Humanscale Consulting Jonathan Puleio.

“I have seen no indication that the architecture and design community is working to balance gender needs from an ergonomics perspective,” Puleio told The Post. “Men and women differ in size and therefore require different ranges of adjustability, particularly with respect to work surface height.”

An ergonomically-friendly office can benefit employees and employers in the long term, resulting in fewer workplace injuries like carpal tunnel and boosting productivity.

“Organizations benefit from reduced churn, reduced injury claims and associated costs, fewer lost workdays, increased employee engagement and increased worker output,” Puleio previously told The Post.

Now, Puleio shares his top four swaps women can make for a better working environment and improved physical health.

An adjustable desk

Adjustable desks are all the rage right now, and while they don’t completely offset health issues, they can offer benefits, especially for women.

“The standard work surface height of 29.5 inches correlates to the seated elbow height of a 95th percentile male,” Puleio explained. “That said, traditional work environments are much less appropriate for female workers, simply because males are, on average, 5.5 inches taller in stature.”

While many computer users set their chairs at the highest level, this can result in a hunched posture while typing.

An adjustable desk can help women find the right height for them and improve back problems from hunching all day.

The right seat shape

It’s not just the desk that makes a difference, but also what you’re sitting on.

Women have a distinct pelvic structure compared to men, especially in terms of size and fat distribution. Women typically carry more fat in the hips, thighs and butt.