Standing at work

[PaulaSB12]

I am furious the place I work you have seats that when you are not busy you can sit down. Now the firm is proposing removing these seats so that we will be standing throughout our 12 hour shifts, I have been looking and here are some of the sypmtoms of standing for too longs
Painful/swollen feet and legs
bunions/corns
varicose veins
archilles tendoitis
arthritis in knees and hip
low back pain
locking of joints
pregnancy problem
heart/circulatory problems.

 

[XTinabell]

and ingrown toenails and bad posture

I used to have to stand on my feet for 8 hour shifts (12 would be worse) and I got lower back pain, swollen feet, I have one (very tiny) vericose vein on my ankle, hip pain and now my knee cracks and I only worked there for 3 months! Don't do it, put up a fight. I know ladies that are still working at that place and one had to have an operation on her leg it swelled up so large. Now could you imagine 12 hour shifts?

 

[arieljasmine]

Oh Paula, that sounds awful and grossly unfair. Do you think your firm would reconsider if you put these facts to them and all stick together on it? Best of luck

Laur's

 

[lostinwonderland]

Grrrr, that must be violating something... Look into safety at work and regulations and stuff, there might be something you threaten them with..

I hate it when work places just put you at more risk and stuff...

At my old work place (Dunelm Mill Thurmaston ICK) there was this lady who was 7 and a half months pregnant had been off because she was having troubles but had to come back to work for the money, anyway she worked on tills and the manager wouldn't let her have a stool because it looked untidy. GR.

But yes, anyway, with so many health risks there must be something wrong with them doing that,,

 

[Danauk]

Thats awful!!!! BTW I must live near you, I'm near Kettering too!

 

[Booknut]

Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 - try and have a look in there.

Have a read of this: http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/haswa.htm

I think its terrible what they are doing, its not like a chair is going to cost them anything or impact the work. I hope you guys are able to work something out with them. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

 

[AlanUK]

Presumably you are not standing for the whole 12 hour shift as you are entitled to breaks as part of standard employment regulations.

I think Health and Safety at work is probably the best vehicle to use in negotiating with your employer on this one but it might also be worth looking into custom and practice if you have always had the seating provided and the opportunity to use it throughout the day.

Also I would probably point out to your employer that it is tiring standing on your feet for long periods of time and that it is likely to affect both the quality with which you are able to perform your job and the risk to the employer of people having to take time off with minor injuries or health issues. Even if none of the above legal options are valid I can't see why any employer wouild take a decision that impacted the quality of their service or led to increased risks.

 

[T16GEM]

Sounds terrible, I hope that you get it sorted out. I would hate it if I had to stand for 12 hours at work - with or wothout breaks it woul still be a very painful way to spend the working day.