Designing for Health & Wellness: Ergonomics in the Modern Workplace

In an exclusive interaction with Global Leaders Insights, Dr. Alan Hedge, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University & The World-Renowned Ergonomist, discusses how modern workplaces are evolving to integrate ergonomics not just through furniture, but via holistic strategies including education, affordable solutions, technology, and adaptable designs. It highlights the need for continuous, science-backed ergonomic practices to improve health, productivity, and employee experience in traditional and hybrid work environments.

Dr. Alan Hedge, a globally recognized ergonomics expert, is renowned for shaping workplace design for NASA and Fortune 500 firms. With 30+ years at Cornell, his research spans organizational design, human factors, and health-focused workspaces. Frequently cited in global media, his insights influence both policy and industry standards worldwide.

As companies worldwide face increasing concerns about employee discomfort and health issues linked to prolonged sitting and poor posture, how are modern workplaces evolving to integrate ergonomic principles effectively?

Due to more concerns over employee well-being and workplace health among workers who often sit for long periods and have poor posture, adopting ergonomic practices is now very important. First, experts say, it is important to select employees who understand and support ergonomics. By setting guidelines, selecting suitable products, and teaching their staff, these champions help with the effective use of technology. Failing to teach workers how to use the equipment means it may not achieve its purpose and using inappropriate tools can cancel out any ergonomic benefits. Besides treating injuries, physiotherapists do not usually have the authority to make changes to people’s workspaces, so dedicated ergonomic programs are required. Because technology is changing quickly, businesses must adjust all the time. Recent advances in technology mean that today’s ergonomic tools may soon be out of date, so businesses have to maintain up-to-date ergonomic programs. The most innovative organizations see that ergonomics must be addressed continuously and is a key priority.

With a growing emphasis on creating comfortable and health-supportive work environments, which ergonomic design trends are becoming most popular in today’s offices to boost well-being and focus?

No matter what an organization’s culture is, human bodies all work in the same way which makes ergonomics important everywhere. Recognizing that it’s important for ergonomics to help physically, mentally, and socially is the first step in customizing ergonomic solutions.

Physical ergonomics tests if different tools and seats help maintain good posture and ease of movement. Cognitive ergonomics is important too, since it guarantees systems and software are easy to use, helping employees with their information and decisions. Even if all hardware is perfect, problems in the software can affect how effectively people work.

Organizational ergonomics deals with team efforts, how information flows and the arrangement of space. Both talking one-on-one and keeping discussions private depend a lot on the physical and cultural environment. Noise, lighting and timing of day affecting the surroundings also affects how well people concentrate and make choices. For example, bad lighting or a noisy area can cause significant problems for work results.

Ergonomics, then, is about more than the proper furniture. Ensuring the workplace benefits people and supports clear thinking, cooperating and staying responsive. Any changes in technology or team setup should bring changes in ergonomics. Promoting ergonomics in companies not only ensure good health—it boosts productivity and future-readiness through all-rounded ergonomic planning.

We know budget is a big concern, especially for smaller organizations. In your view, how can they make smart choices about ergonomic solutions that are both effective and affordable?

Budget, cost, and value are always considerations, but companies tend to pay more attention to the price than to the actual value of what they are buying. While knowing the cost is important, you should also ask what benefits we will receive from making this investment. What you value is often the result you get, the experiences you have, and the gains that remain even after you stop using it.

Try to use the same route from point A to point B. Pick from walking, riding a tuk-tuk, cycling or traveling in a car. They all get you to your destination, but the way you feel, the comfort, efficiency, and outcomes you experience and your mood on arrival are not the same. The idea fits directly into office settings: arranging ergonomic work areas may be an extra expense, though it increases employee wellbeing, improves productivity and enhances decision-making.

Visual cues influence status and perception. Wearing wrinkled and torn clothes to a job meeting isn’t a good idea; an organization should know that the atmosphere of a workplace can make someone see it differently. Frequently, if tools are outdated or considered plain, they are not used even if they work well.

The right solutions satisfy on design, comfort and functionality. The main benefit comes from there. Smart organizations know that investing in ergonomics is not just spending money—it helps in better team connection, performance, and strong reputation.

Creating ergonomic workspaces is not just about furniture but also about educating employees; how important is raising awareness and training staff to practice healthy habits in the workplace?

Enhancing your health and workplace performance at work depends on two key principles: adopting good body positions and moving around more often. Even though running for 30 minutes and walking 10,000 steps every day is popular advice, one should check if that’s what real research backs up. NASA reports, which I have explored in my career, show that a short 10-minute trampoline session can give you the same heart health benefits as jogging for 30 minutes. For professionals with hectic lives, listening to this is very helpful.

Also, the popular rule says you have to complete 10,000 steps per day. Experts say only 6,000 daily steps are necessary for good health. More importantly, taking frequent breaks to stand or shift your weight may be more important than staying in motion the whole time. The human body is built to move, not to stay in one position for a long time. Using work habits supported by science can greatly improve well-being and productivity in offices today.

The rise of remote and hybrid work models has changed where and how people work; how are companies adapting their ergonomic approaches to support wellbeing beyond the traditional office?

Evolving technologies and work models are shaping the future of ergonomics. Hybrid work model now means people sometimes work at home, in coworking spaces, and during travel—so ergonomics must be considered in many settings instead of just in conventional offices. Using an ergonomic office does not substitute for poor posture during your regular workday. If you spend three days eating well and binge on food each of the other days, it won’t do you much good. Ergonomics should be built into every setting, including your house, a cafe, and while traveling. For this reason, workplaces need tools and designs that can be set up easily and be comfortable for workers. Plus, they should include digital learning programs and AI for providing feedback on posture. Companies ought to adapt so their workforce stays healthy and productive, wherever they may be working.

How do you envision new technologies and innovative design concepts transforming workplace ergonomics to create healthier and more productive work environments?

The success of ergonomic workplaces tomorrow is likely to depend on combining flexible tools, spaces, and smarter technologies. As screens get larger and more monitors are used side by side, the traditional station must change with desks you can move up and down, ergonomic equipment, and flexible designs that help people stay comfortable and work easily. Apart from furniture, software design, lighting, sound, and temperature, other factors like the user interface have a big effect on peak performance. Recent breakthroughs mean lighting, sound systems, and various tools are easier to use than before and new AI systems notice people’s posture and can even detect if someone is suffering from fatigue or illness. Office systems will probably use the same technology found in modern cars to roughly assess users and adapt, giving everyone a personalized comfort level during meetings. Eventually, offices will evolve to be places that merge health, comfort, and productivity with the help of design and innovative ideas.

The phrase 'sitting is the new smoking' has gained widespread attention in recent years, sparking both concern and debate. From your perspective, how accurate or useful is this comparison in the context of workplace ergonomics and health?

The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” is captivating and catchy, yet it does not give the full story about the issue. It’s not simply sitting, but the posture of your body, duration, and movement are important. Even so, staying in the same position for a long time is bad for your health, though not as serious as smoking. The most important thing is to practice and move in many ways. Seeing to it that you are sitting for 20 minutes, standing for 8, and moving for 2 helps both you and your performance and makes the routine very beneficial, so long as you have ergonomic desks that allow this. New technology lets you regulate these doors easily, saving energy, which means they are ideal for both offices and homes. However, you still must be aware and trained even with top tools. By using ergonomics, employees can feel better, do their jobs well, and take satisfaction from what they do, which directly helps build a healthier, more productive, and human-centered workplace.