The "Average" Worker Size Doesn't Exist

Your workstation may be fully adjustable , and still be uncomfortable for half your team.

Why?

Because most office setups are designed around an imaginary person: the “average” worker.

Average height. Average leg length. Average torso. Average chair preference.

But your team is made up of real people, and real people vary dramatically.

Some employees are tall. Some are shorter. Some have longer legs and shorter torsos. Others need a higher chair for their desk, while their feet still need support below.

A workstation that suits one person can quietly create strain for another.

You’re not alone if your workplace has invested in ergonomic chairs, monitor arms and adjustable desks, yet employees still report back, neck, wrist or shoulder discomfort.

Here’s the part that often gets missed: ergonomics has to start with the individual , including their legs and feet.

The “average” worker doesn’t exist

Most people understand that monitor height and keyboard position should be adjustable.

But body proportions are just as important.

Two employees can be the same height and still have completely different:

• Leg lengths
• Torso lengths
• Hip heights
• Arm lengths
• Preferred sitting positions
• Chair and desk requirements

That means a standard workstation setting is never truly standard.

The chair height that allows one employee to keep their elbows level with the keyboard may leave another employee’s feet unsupported. A desk height that feels comfortable for one person may force another to raise their shoulders or bend their wrists.

And here’s something most people don’t realise:

The lower body can influence the position of the upper body.

When your feet are supported, your pelvis and legs have a stable foundation. When they are not, your body often starts making small adjustments to compensate.

A supported foundation = a supported spine.

Simple as that.

The height gap problem: feet or wrists?

Shorter employees often face the most obvious version of this problem.

Standard desk heights are designed to accommodate many people, but they are not automatically comfortable for every body type. If an employee lowers their chair so their feet reach the floor, their arms may no longer sit comfortably at desk level.

If they raise the chair so their elbows and wrists are positioned correctly, their feet may dangle.

That creates an unfair choice:

• Lower the chair: feet reach the floor, but the keyboard may sit too high
• Raise the chair: elbows align with the desk, but the feet lose support
• Reach for the floor with the toes: legs and hips remain tense
• Slide forward in the chair: back support is lost
• Lean toward the screen: neck and shoulder strain may increase

Over time, unsupported feet can contribute to discomfort around the legs, hips and lower back. Employees may also tilt their pelvis, perch on the edge of the chair or lean forward to feel more stable.

That forward lean can then affect the neck and shoulders.

Not always. Not for everyone. But it is a common compensation pattern , and one that is easy to overlook when an ergonomic assessment focuses only on the desk surface.

You shouldn’t have to choose between your feet and your wrists.

That trade-off is a design failure, not an employee failure.

Why shared workstations make the problem worse

Hot-desking and hybrid work have changed the way offices operate.

They have also exposed the weaknesses of fixed workstation setups.

A shared desk may be adjusted for the person who used it yesterday. Today, a different employee sits down and inherits those settings , even if their height, leg length and chair position are completely different.

The result?

A workstation that is technically adjustable, but practically frustrating.

Employees may not know which settings to change. They may avoid adjusting expensive equipment. They may not have enough time between meetings. Or they may simply assume that discomfort is something they need to tolerate.

That’s not good enough.

A shared workstation should be easy to personalise, not a daily negotiation with someone else’s settings.

A genuinely adaptable setup should allow each user to quickly adjust:

• Chair height and depth
• Lumbar support
• Armrests
• Monitor height and distance
• Keyboard and mouse position
• Foot support

This is especially important for workplaces with:

• Hot desks and hoteling systems
• Rotating teams
• Casual or temporary staff
• Hybrid workers moving between locations
• Workstations used by people of different heights
• Employees who already report discomfort or fatigue

Shared does not have to mean one-size-fits-all.

What the evidence says about personalisation

The shift toward personalised ergonomics is not just a design trend.

Guidance from OSHA’s computer workstation resources recommends that your feet are fully supported by the floor or a stable footrest. It also highlights the importance of positioning the keyboard so your elbows, forearms, wrists and hands can remain in a neutral position.

That combination matters.

It is not enough to provide a chair and tell employees to “sit properly”. They need the tools and knowledge to adjust their workstation around their own body.

Research supports this approach, too.

One randomised trial of office workers found that an intervention combining individualised workstation adjustments and ergonomic training produced a 42.2% reduction in neck musculoskeletal disorders over six months. You can read the study through PubMed.

That does not mean every ergonomic purchase produces the same result.

Here’s the catch: equipment works best when it is adjustable, correctly fitted and supported by employee involvement.

That is where participatory ergonomics comes in.

Instead of making decisions from the top down, you involve employees in the process:

1. Ask where discomfort occurs.
2. Observe how work is actually performed.
3. Let employees explain what prevents them from adjusting their workstation.
4. Test practical solutions.
5. Review what works over time.

Reviews of participatory ergonomics suggest that involving workers can help reduce discomfort and improve workstation habits, particularly when participation is combined with practical equipment and training. The evidence is not a magic formula , but it is clear that a leaflet alone is rarely enough.

Your team should be part of the ergonomic solution.

Why traditional floor footrests can fall short

A floor footrest can be useful when it is stable, correctly positioned and adjusted to the individual.

But in a shared workstation, there is an obvious limitation:

The footrest stays still while the user and chair move.

You may pull your chair forward. Roll backwards. Turn to speak with a colleague. Move closer to the desk. Recline for a video call.

A traditional floor footrest remains wherever it was placed.

That can lead to:

• Repositioning the footrest throughout the day
• The footrest sliding out of reach
• Employees forgetting to use it
• Different users needing different positions
• Clutter under the desk
• A footrest being treated as optional rather than essential

Most floor footrests are designed as separate accessories. They can support your feet, but they do not automatically stay connected to your sitting position.

And that is exactly why chair-mounted support is worth considering.

The adaptable answer: support that moves with the chair

PostureAssist is designed to solve the missing link between the chair and the floor.

It attaches directly to your office chair, so your foot support moves with you instead of sitting in a fixed position under the desk.

That means you can:

• Adjust the footrest for your preferred height
• Keep your feet supported as you move your chair
• Maintain a more consistent seated position
• Reduce clutter from loose floor accessories
• Create a more adaptable setup for different users
• Support employees whose feet do not comfortably reach the floor

PostureAssist is designed to fit most standard office chairs with a central pole and base. If you are managing a workplace rollout, it is worth checking chair compatibility before ordering. The PostureAssist FAQ explains the basic requirements.

Installation is also designed to be straightforward, with assembly guidance available here.

For procurement and facilities teams, the benefit is simple: one adaptable solution can be used across a range of workstations and body types without adding another bulky item to the floor.

For employees, the benefit is even simpler.

Their support stays where they need it.

A practical workstation check for your team

Before replacing every desk or chair, ask a few better questions.

Can each employee answer “yes” to these questions?

• Are your feet fully supported?
• Can you keep your knees comfortably bent without pressure behind them?
• Are your elbows close to your body while typing?
• Are your forearms roughly parallel to the floor?
• Are your wrists straight rather than bent upward or sideways?
• Can you sit back in the chair while still reaching the keyboard?
• Can you adjust the workstation without needing facilities support?
• Does your foot support remain available when you move the chair?
• Can the setup be quickly personalised at a shared desk?

If the answer is “no” to several of these, the issue may not be poor posture or a lack of employee awareness.

It may be a mismatch between the workstation and the person using it.

And if you are auditing a shared office, ask employees directly:

“What do you have to compromise to feel comfortable at this desk?”

The answer may reveal more than a standard checklist.

Build for people, not averages

The modern workplace is flexible. Your ergonomic strategy should be too.

A good workstation is not one that looks identical for everyone. It is one that can be adjusted quickly and comfortably for the person sitting there : whether they are working in the office, at home or from a shared desk.

The right approach combines:

• Adjustable furniture
• Personal workstation settings
• Employee-led ergonomic assessments
• Practical education
• Regular movement and position changes
• Stable foot support
• Equipment that adapts to different body types

Most importantly, it recognises that comfort is not a perk. It is part of a functional, sustainable workstation.

PostureAssist was created from real workplace experience, including founder Kerri’s own challenge with unsupported feet during long accounting and bookkeeping days. You can read the full PostureAssist story.

Your team is not average.

Their workstations should not be either.

👉 Explore the PostureAssist Foot Rest or contact us about workplace and bulk orders.

Personalise. Support. Work better.