Skimping on Quality Business Furniture Can Hurt Your Business

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We see it all the time.  Companies looking to change their office furniture will invest in higher quality new business furniture for areas that are often seen by visitors – like the reception area and the boardroom – but skimp on the quality and “newness” of the task furniture for their staff.  That may seem like a great economical decision for the short term but in the long term, it could end up being one of the worst business decisions ever.  Why?

1.        It can send the wrong message to your staff. 

While high quality business furniture in the “seen” areas will make a positive impression on your visitors, the lack of quality task furniture can give just the opposite impression to your staff.  Think about it—your staff does all the work to make your company operate effectively.  Making sure they have high quality business furniture to work with sends the message that you value them and their contribution in the success of your business.

2.       Lower quality business furniture can eat up your profits…

(a)   Through replacement costs

While investing in lower quality furniture may keep costs low in the short term, the “life” of the furniture is significantly less than that of higher quality furniture and therefore may need to be replaced much sooner or more frequently.  Over a 10-year period, for example, you may find that you have spent more money replacing low quality business furniture than you would have if you initially invested in higher quality furniture.

(b)   Through increased absenteeism and benefit payouts

Lower quality business furniture does not promote optimal comfort and positioning for everyday business tasks, hence there could be increased reports of back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome amongst your staff.  In more severe cases, this could result in staff missing work for extended periods of time and your company having to pay increased disability costs.

3.       It can contribute to lower productivity

Low quality business furniture will lessen you staff’s overall productivity.  Lower productivity means less competitiveness.

So why take the risk?  Invest in high quality business furniture for your staff’s everyday use.  The continued success of your business depends on it.

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