Chairs Buyer's Guide

Tips

Avoid embarrassing situations. Overweight employees that need special chairs to support their weight could feel embarrassed by the extra attention. Manufacturers can furnish special chairs with adjustable options such as pneumatic lifts to support users with large frames. These chairs provide extra support but look exactly like standard office chairs so other employees don’t notice the difference.

Pay to assemble. Look for a chair vendor that will assemble the chairs upon delivery. Many chairs are packaged in parts and require assembly at the point of delivery. While the work may be minimal, you will be fully responsible if it’s not done properly or breaks. Assembly can cost extra but offers peace of mind that the job will be done right.

Skip soft chairs. Soft, open-cell foam may feel comfortable, but after a while, the lack of firmness limits support. If the vendor will customize the upholstery for your chairs, ask for material that will contour to the user’s body type and provide all-day comfort like molded memory foam.

Ask about repairs. A full-service chair vendor may recommend an inspection and maintenance schedule. Make sure to ask whether parts can be replaced in your office when repairs are required.

Move around. Regardless which office chairs you buy, stress to your employees the importance of getting out of their chairs every few hours to walk around and keep blood circulating and avoid cramping.

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