From so-called "sick-building disease" to mousing-induced carpal tunnel syndrome, the
modern-day office is not devoid of potential health problems.
Take the phone. In this era of multi-tasking, wedging a phone between your ear and shoulder
for long stretches of time while you type, search for a document, or reach across your
desk for a file can be-quite literally-a pain in the neck.
If you or your employees find yourselves frequently on the phone and in pain as a result,
a telephone headset can spare you from a stiff neck and sore muscles. A relatively simple
device, the headset does away with the need for any part of the body to support the clunky
telephone receiver. Headsets allow you to talk on the phone hands-free, giving you the
freedom to surf the Internet, take a sip of coffee, or shuffle through files easily and
painlessly.
A headset consists of an earpiece, microphone, and a cord that plugs into an accompanying
amplifier, which is plugged into the phone.While purchasing one may not seem like much
of an ordeal, making sure it is actually worn is important. That is why the most important
criteria in choosing a headset is comfort.
Quick tips
Try used. If headsets seem a little too
pricey to you, refurbished models can be a good buy. You can find them for half
the price of new models. Compare sound to regular phones. If you have a chance to test your headset
before buying, have someone listen to you talking through the headset and then through
a regular phone, and see how the sound compares. Look for twisted cords. Headsets with twisted cords will minimize clutter
while allowing mobility, freeing you from being leashed too closely to your desk.
Most headsets are designed to be worn headband-style. These headsets typically cover
one ear and extend over the head like a headband. If keeping your hair particularly unmussed
is any sort of an issue, this type of headset probably isn't for you.