Archives September 2021

Good Hydration At Work: It’s Important And Beneficial

Positive young woman in uniform smiling while standing at counter desk in cafeDrinking enough water every day is important for your health. However, many of us don’t drink enough, let alone at work, although it would be beneficial. What obligations must the employer respect? What are the causes and consequences of dehydration? How to hydrate properly? What are the benefits of good hydration?

Employer’s obligations regarding hydration

Article R4225-2 of the Labor Code indicates that the employer must provide employees with drinking and fresh water (between 9 ° C and 12 ° C, without exceeding 15 ° C) so that they can drink .

The water can be distributed through a water fountain or a tap.

It is not compulsory to install water fountains in the company. However, 60% of employees whose companies have them believe that they have a positive effect on their water consumption. 70% of employees in small and medium-sized businesses would like to have a water cooler.

In addition, the employer must provide sinks with potable water. 48% of French people drinktap water . In the event of a faucet unfit for consumption, the installation of a water fountain will be necessary.

According to article Article R4225-3 of the Labor Code, when employees must hydrate frequently due to special working conditions , at least one non-alcoholic drink must be made available to them free of charge. After consulting the occupational physician, the CHSCT (or staff representatives), the employer draws up the list of positions concerned. The drinks and flavorings made available take into account the wishes of employees, after consulting the occupational physician.

Article R4225-4 specifies that the location of the beverage dispensing stations must be located near the workstations, in a place that complies with all hygienic conditions. The devices must be maintained and function properly. Drinks should be stored well to avoid contamination.

Tips for staying hydrated at work

Drinking is important, but at work it happens that we do not do enough for lack of time or simply because we do not think about it. Here are some tips and tricks to promote good hydration:

  • Don’t wait to be thirsty: it’s a sign of dehydration
  • Preferably drink cold water
  • When you feel hungry, drinking water can calm your stomach.
  • Favor fruits and vegetables made up of plenty of water (zucchini, grapes, watermelon, cucumber, apricot, spinach, etc.)
  • Drink at least 1.5 L of water per day
  • Drink in small amounts regularly
  • Take breaks to drink
  • Drink preferably outside of meals: 30 minutes before or 2 hours after
  • Install (or request installation) a water fountain
  • Use an app to help yourself drink more
  • Hydrate more when taking drugs to facilitate the work of the kidneys
  • Adapt your consumption to your needs (physical activity, illness, etc.)
  • Drink drinks that you like ( organic tea , smoothie …)

Causes and consequences of dehydration

According to a study carried out in 2014, 80% of employees know how much water should be consumed per day, while almost half do not drink enough. One in three adults drinks less than a liter of water per day. In addition to that, dehydration can be caused by stress, a heavy workload, overheated offices …

Dehydration, even low, has many consequences:

  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Thirst
  • Lack of concentration
  • Tired
  • Migraines
  • Transit disorders
  • Decreased energy
  • Drop in productivity of 25% to 50% for a decrease of hydration of 3 to 4%

Benefits of good hydration

People Having a MeetingThe human brain is made up of over 80% water. Good hydration is essential on a daily basis. Indeed, it allows:

    • To promote concentration
    • To strengthen cognitive capacities
    • Make the brain work better
    • Eliminate toxins from the body
    • To properly regulate body temperature
    • Improve physical performance
    • To relieve headaches
  • To regulate your mood

Working While Standing Is Good Yor Your Health

Woman in White Long Sleeve Shirt Sitting on BedDue to the appearance of new innovations (television, car, computer, etc.) and the development of sedentary workstations, we are spending more and more time sitting, whether in our personal or professional life (up to 75% of the time awake for people working in an office). However, studies have shown that staying too often and for a long time in this position is risky for your health, hence the idea of ​​working while standing!

Seated work: what are the risks

According to an ActivUP survey, French employees are mostly against sitting down (79%), even though this is the most common position to work. They believe that it is not suitable for the human body and that it is harmful to health.

They are not wrong because, in fact, research (by the INRS) and American scientific studies have been carried out to prove that sitting too long is harmful to health. In fact, the risks and possible impacts are as follows:

  • Increase in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
  • Back, shoulder or shoulder pain
  • Development of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Falls
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Heavy legs
  • Reduced life expectancy
  • Obesity
  • Breast cancer
  • Colon Cancer
  • Cardiovascular illnesses
  • Constipation

In addition, the results show that the risk of mortality of people working seated for less than 4 hours a day, having a daily sport activity of at least 1 hour, is lower (6.8%) than those who remain seated for 8 hours or more. more in the office (9.9%).

Setting up sit-stand work

Crop doctor with stethoscope in hospitalIt therefore seems important to change your daily habits, including those at work, by opting for a sit-stand desk. While the concept has been adopted for several years in the Scandinavian countries, it is only arriving in Europe.

A sit-stand desk makes it easy to switch to either position with manual or electric adjustment. The height adjustment means that it can adapt to the morphology of each person, which is not negligible. Several different models exist such as the ZestDesk (to put on your desk), the Ology from SteelCase or the Bekant from Ikea.

Before offering sit-stand work, it is necessary to explain why. However, it should not be imposed because everyone should be able to do their job in the position that suits them best. In addition, it is preferable to alternate the two positions. The international standard ISO n ° 9241-11: 1998 indicates that it is advisable that the layout of the position, the task and the furniture allow the employee to alternate positions. Indeed, working standing is beneficial for health, but can become uncomfortable, painful after a while. Typing tasks and creative tasks can be done sitting down, the others standing.

If this is not in place, avoid staying static all day: get up as soon as possible, do small exercises (shoulder roll, back stretch, etc.) and be active outside of working hours to keep a good health.

Benefits of standing up

Opting for sit-stand work allows:

    • To have an office more suited to its size and morphology
    • Burn calories faster
    • To be more dynamic
    • To promote blood circulation
    • To avoid the blows of fatigue
    • To be more productive in the long term (according to a study carried out in a call center for 6 months, by working standing, employees saw their productivity increase by 46%)
    • To be more focused
  • To have less stiffness and joint pain and therefore reduce the number of sick leaves