Companies that utilize contact centers understand the value of maintaining skilled employees, since customer service tends to be an industry with a high amount of worker “churn.” The health and well-being of contact center personnel is therefore a high priority. This becomes especially notable as media reports reveal the health disadvantages of sedentary work styles.
Premium wireless devices promote physical mobility, which not only delivers health benefits but also enhances productivity through improved multitasking capability, collaboration opportunities and employee satisfaction. While unified communications and mobile devices are making businesses more agile, many workplaces are still restricted desk-bound settings that adversely impact productivity and health.
For example, reports show that long periods of sitting can compress internal organs and reduce blood flow to other areas of the body. This has been associated with elevated blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and an increased risk of diabetes. Reduced blood flow can impact concentration due to diminished oxygen levels to the brain, which can slow responsiveness.
Poor office ergonomics can lead to back and neck pain. Handheld devices such as desktop and mobile phones often require employees to cradle a receiver between the neck and shoulder to free their hands for manual tasks. This posture—easily avoided with a headset—can compress the cervical vertebrae, which risks neck, shoulder or back pain as the spine endures pressure. Such undue discomfort can contribute to lower job satisfaction, employee absences or personnel turnover as workers “burn out” in their positions.
Forward-thinking corporations can embrace wireless audio as a component to support emerging practices like “chairless” meetings and the use of standing desks. Benefits include hands-free capabilities, which hold special ergonomic advantages when conducting longer calls, compared to the physical stress of prolonged use of a handheld phone. Wireless headsets now offer longer distance ranges than in previous years, making it easier to traverse the office space while conducting business calls, yet while maintaining a natural, high-quality listening experience. Communication becomes easier and less fatiguing, even in noisier environments, due to adjustable noise cancellation technology available in modern wireless headsets. All these features help businesses to create a more modern and productive contact center environment that fosters healthier workstyles and greater employee longevity.
Sennheiser offers a wide range of headset solutions that work seamlessly with leading unified communication platforms, delivering unrestrained mobility and the best possible sound. They incorporate features such as advanced noise cancellation, directional microphones for superior listening experiences and high-quality engineering to ensure superior sound transmission. Best-in-class design and long-lasting batteries accommodate a full working day of talk time with long-wearing comfort. Such health-oriented advantages create a contact center environment that is more likely to engender a satisfied, loyal and consistent staff, which can help to safeguard any investments in training or staff development a business owner may make over time.
“Businesses need to adopt a holistic view of their practices to improve health and productivity,” explained Andreas Bach, president of Sennheiser Communications A/S. “While there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution, headsets have long been a key tool in improving ergonomics. Now, wireless technologies are taking these benefits even further by accommodating the increase of physical activity for employees throughout their workdays. Those advantages add up to a happier and healthier user experience.”
