I recently started a new job at the corporate headquarters for a major retailer which brought up some new challenges. Here’s my experience:
When you’re employed and go to a 40 hour a week job – making changes to your workspace can be intimidating. How do you ask your boss for a standing desk? How will your coworkers react? Will you feel like a prairie dog with your head high above the other cubicles?
I put in my request for a standing desk early on. In my case, it meant that the company had to raise a couple pieces of my cubicle – sounds easy, right? Well, it was a bit more complicated than I expected but overall the company was very accommodating and understanding.
My initial request had to go through several departments, which is to be expected. I was given an initial timeline of ‘a few weeks’ until I’d have the desk raised. Unable to sit for 8 hours a day, I began measuring items around the office to find a way to create a makeshift work station. After a couple weeks of sitting, I came up with this:
So, as you can see, it wasn’t ideal but it worked. This setup garnered more than a few inquiries and raised eyebrows. I felt so much more productive being able to work while standing that it was absolutely worth it.
When coworkers stopped by my cubicle to ask why I had my recycling bin on top of my desk, I explained the benefits and that was that. In fact, I think that the unsightly nature of my desk helped to expedite the whole process.
Which isn’t to say that getting my desk raised happened quickly – it didn’t. It took 2.5 months for all the appropriate departments to approve the request, order the parts, and hire a company who specializes in cubicle adjustments.
I didn’t expect it to take that long. So – lesson learned, in corporate environments, it may take a while to have your desk adjusted and in the meantime, there are ways to make your desk a standing workstation without spending a dime.
A couple weeks ago, I had my desk officially raised (much to everyone’s delight!) and here’s what it looks like now:
I’m still working on making it a really comfortable workspace but its getting there! I’m the only person in my general area who has a standing desk… although, in another part of the office there are a couple of designers who have a standing desk, too – so I wasn’t a complete anomaly.
People stop and talk to me about the desk practically every day. They want to know if I ever sit (I do) and how I put in the request, who I talked to, how long it took etc.
Just today I learned of a couple associates in another part of the company who had their own desks raised after chatting with me – and they love it!
So – in conclusion – it’s intimidating to request cubicle adjustments but ultimately its completely worth it and you might inspire your coworkers to get up, too.
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