Should Homeworkers Get Physio Vouchers?

With more of us working from home than ever before, and many of us having been forced to set up a home office very quickly at the start of the global pandemic, there are signs that this could be causing problems for our bodies.

Poorly positioned screens and keyboards, as well as unsuitable desks and chairs, could result in a host of health problems that mean you’d benefit from some sessions with a physiotherapist in Maidenhead, or wherever you live.

One Dutch union is calling for employers to provide workers with vouchers for physiotherapy to help them deal with any injuries or niggles they develop as a result of working from home without equipment and a desk setup that meets health and safety standards.

Dutch News reported that union CNV surveyed 2,500 people and found that some 41 per cent have experienced arm and neck problems since the start of the pandemic, while 45 per cent stated that their home workstation “did not comply with health and safety norms”.

The union is arguing that employers would make the money they spend on physiotherapy vouchers back by reducing the amount of sick leave people have to take as a result of issues like neck and back pain caused by inadequate workstations at home.

An article for ZME Science last month offered some advice to workers who find themselves indefinitely working from home. At the top of the list is to regularly get up from your desk and stretch.

It’s also important to consider your posture and how you sit at your desk. As well as keeping a straight back and having a chair that supports you to prevent slouching, make sure you aren’t constantly tilting your head down to look at your screen.