Work should buy me a stand up desk

[Marue]

They are really digging their heals about this. It costs maybe 400 that they can detuct against tax and they would of paid a 5 figure amount to an employment agency to requit me.

I don't ask for much at work, I've bought in my own special keyboard and mouse and my training has all been done locally the last few years so saved many times the cost of the desk on hotel and transport expenses.

The company is doing very well and not short of money.

I'm kind of taking offence that they don't want to make this small investment too make my working life better. Aibu?

IKEA now sell standing desk additions, very cheap, look at those.

Tbh I find the OPs attitude quite odd. She expected her company to treat her differently because they paid 15k for the privilege of having her work there and should be grateful she even turns up

If the threads she has posted recently are anything to go by, I would have rather saved my 15k.

Oh christ I think I was this woman's manager a few years ago.......endless demands, endless excuses for being shit at the job.

You want a standing job OP? Go work in a bar. Or invest in your own fucking desk to stand at.

You've posted lots of AIBUs over the last few days, haven't you?

Which specialists have recommended this desk for you? In one of your first posts you said that you have been referred to a chiropractor by your GP but nothing about them specifically recommending this desk. Your posts on here come across as if you are a petulant teenager throwing your toys out of the pram because the company won't rush out and buy you something which may, or may not, help your back. I hope you don't come across that way at work.

If you genuinely feel that this desk will help your back at work you need to approach the issue in a more mature fashion. Go see a specialist and get a written recommendation from them that this desk, in their professional opinion, will alleviate your symptoms. Present it to HR and you might have a chance of getting somewhere.

Oh and no, not everyone who works in an office has back problems.

Do your company a favour and leave. Oh and good luck in finding somewhere else that will pander to your whims.

I work in an open plan office. I was wondering what the impact would be on the general dynamic of an office if one person were standing up when everyone else were sat down.

I can imagine that a lot of employers are not keen to create an impression of unnecessary special treatment for one employee.

Am I missing something here?

I have hideous upper back problems. I've just asked for a referral to occupational health as I cannot sit down comfortably in an ordinary chair. I have a horrid, totally unergonomic work station which is really uncomfortable to use. I'm hoping to get a standing desk, or something similar.as my problems are long term I understand I'm covered by the disability act. Am I expecting too much?

I do have a diagnosed disability that affects my lower back. Standing at a workstation or in the kitchen, to cook dinner, is hellish some days. I would be arguing for a decent, supportive chair, but standing all day sounds a bit bonkers, to be honest, if you have genuine problems.

Chiropractors don't always offer the best advice, anyhow.

There isn't a disability act any more - it's the Equality Act 2010.

Orange if you have a long standing documented problem that you're addressing through Occupational Health your situation sounds very different from that of the OP.

Sit/stand desks are the optimal solution ourvye. I generally stand for emails and other admin tasks, but sit for reading and writing. Alternating is good.

Are you standing up to play on mumsnet, btw, OP?

I can only tolerate standing for more than a short while if I can also be moving around. I can walk around for hours but standing is torture and my feet go numb. Doesn't help that I have to concentrate on not bending my knees the wrong way.

OT offered me a perch stool for the kitchen, but that would hurt my shoulders from having to reach - and I'd trip over it because I'm as clumsy as hell!

Doesn't everyone have back problems thats been working in an office for a while?

I have worked in an office for over 20 years and never had back problems; mainly because I vary my posture and get up and move around from time to time. You sound quite entitled OP; have you had or requested a health & safety assessment to assess whether you actually need any special equipment? In my experience, people who claim they 'don't ask for much' tend to do the very opposite. To be honest if I was your employer I'd be more concerned about paying an agency thousands of £ to recruit someone who can't spell or use basic grammar - digging their 'heals', 'would of paid' and an investment 'too make my working life easier'?

I cant agree with the idea that the OP should buy her own desk.

Can you imagine what offices would look like if people started bringing random bits of furniture in from home just because they fancied it? It's bad enough when people go mad personalising their desk space.

These sit-stand desks seem to be really fashionable at the moment and we have lots of staff requesting them.

I was told by our OH dept that they aren't really needed by most staff as staff should be taking regular breaks from their workstation eg once an hour.

Aaaaaand, she's gone

If she ever comes back, I'd like to know what the back condition is, is there evidence that a standing desk would resolve the condition and what sort of specialist has said she needs one.

Just thinking what would happen at work if we all insisted on following our whims and fancies:

• "I find clothes restricting so from now on will be coming to work naked"
• "my spirit guide told me to hang this dream catcher/wind chime over my desk"
• "I find boiled haddock very tasty, I can cook it in the office microwave"
• "to the person who has been helping themselves to the apple juice from the office fridge - I have been experimenting with drinking my own urine"
• "my feng shui counsellor said that I should move onto your desk"

Perhaps a stand up desk wouldnt be so bad.

I could just tell from the abruptness of the title of this one that it was going to be by an entitled poster.

OP, could it be that you display the same rather non-interactive, strangely inexpressive attitude at work, and they are actually hoping that by refusing your demands, you may actually just leave?

I have a rubbish back - 2 discectomies and degenerative disc disease ... And permanent nerve damage in my leg/foot because of it. I showed my surgeon's report to OHU and I now have a height adjustable desk which allows me to vary my position a few times a day.
I'm also in an open plan hell - sorry.... Office. It's ok. Bit weird for the colleague who sits opposite but it works.

Sit/stand desks have lots of benefits for health. Lots of other countries use them.
Also, my back issue is to with my coccyx, sitting for any length of time is awful for me. So I alternate between standing/lying down. All back conditions are different in what helps.

I have several colleagues who have height adjustable desks supplied by the company. All have medically recognised back problems and so could demonstrate the need for the desk. I don't think personal opinion or the view of a chiropractor will be enough. I have back problems but I'm not convinced that standing is the answer in my case as it is upper back not lower. Getting up and moving around does help a lot.

When I was massively pregnant and at work I'd get really uncomfortable after sitting for a while. Instead of demanding a new desk and pointing out how lucky they were to have me, I simply stood up and continued to type, talk, etc. Unless OP's desk is situated 18 inches off the floor and this would be impossible for her.....

I bought myself a Varidesk about 18 months ago. I think it's great! It's so easy to adjust, just sits on the desk.
If I want to stand, the keyboard monitor and mouse move up on the adjustable platform, then can be lowered back to desk level in seconds.
I am still the only person where I work who has one. I'm very glad I bought it; I am sure that my employer would not have financed if I had asked them.