{"69505":{"#nid":"69505","#data":{"type":"news","title":"What Does Tech Think: Would You Stand Up for Sitting Down?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Situation:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch has suggested that standing up all day at work can burn as many calories as a three-mile run \u2014 but it can be a challenge. Your supervisor has offered to provide the standing workspace arrangement to anyone who is interested. What would you do?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Response:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBeth Mynatt, executive director of the Institute for People and Technology, thinks there are pros and cons to this concept. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDifferent workstation designs are a great idea, as many of us are too sedentary and suffer from chronic back and neck pain,\u201d she said. \u201cBut standing all day can also be physically taxing.\u201d \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMynatt would advocate for standing workstations that include a slow treadmill where employees could occasionally work on a laptop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaureen Olson, medical director of Stamps Health Services, likes a similar balance between standing and sitting. She suggests creating a space that allows for alternate periods of standing with sitting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOn-the-job fatigue, which may occur with prolonged standing, can have a negative impact on productivity, even if the supposed benefit is calorie burning,\u201d Olson said. \u201cThe best health practices are the ones that create a balance and always protect your joints and body.\u201d \u003Cbr \/\u003EJustin Rent, senior designer in Communications and Marketing, has used the standing arrangement for three months.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI find that I have more energy throughout the day,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes a lot of sense, because I used to sit for much of the day. I would feel drained by the end of the day and have no idea why. Now, I feel healthier and more productive.\u201d \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeNedra Williams, senior benefits counselor in the Office of Human Resources, would pass on standing. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAlthough the reward of accomplishing the calorie burn would be great with little or no pressing effort, the mind works differently while at work, and you\u2019re inclined to sit to do your daily duties,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearch has suggested that standing up all day at work can burn as many calories as a three-mile run \u2014 but it can be a challenge. Your supervisor has offered to provide the standing workspace arrangement to anyone who is interested. What would you do?\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Research has suggested that standing up all day at work can burn as many calories as a three-mile run \u2014 but it can be a challenge. Your supervisor has offered to provide the standing workspace arrangement to anyone who is interested. What would you d"}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2011-08-22 14:38:23","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:09:59","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2011-08-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2011-08-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"171110","name":"standing arrangements"},{"id":"171111","name":"standing workstations"},{"id":"14073","name":"What Does Tech Think?"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amelia.pavlik@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmelia Pavlik\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECommunications \u0026amp; Marketing\u003Cbr \/\u003E404-385-4142\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}