64% of bank employees suffer from Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) issues reveals Godrej Interio’s study

Mumbai, 19 July 2022: Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, announced that its business Godrej Interio, India’s leading furniture solutions brand, in home and institutional segments, has revealed findings from their exclusive study ‘Wellbeing at Work in the Banking Sector’. The study revealed that employees of banks spend long periods of time on screens, monitoring real-time data, answering online customer questions, and keeping systems updated, which is physically and mentally strenuous. The survey found that not all banks are measuring up to importance of well-being, and do not yet have the necessary resources to foster a healthy work environment. A total of 250 bankers participated in the research, working for both public and private sector banks. The survey attempted to understand the extent of awareness among employees about right work postures, work-desk ergonomics, and overall wellbeing.

According to the research study, most banks lack ergonomic infrastructure, which contributes to unhealthy ergonomic postures among bank employees who sit for long periods of time. 49% of the chairs in banks lack armrest adjustments and 41% still lack back recline. The percentage of people in pain is significantly higher in the segment of workers over 26, and the numbers continue to rise as they age, showing that age may be a key factor in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).

The study also reveals that 85% desk used by the bank employees lacks height adjustment and 31% states that there is lack of space below the desk. An overarching worry uncovered in the study was 69% employees are facing lower back pain, 62% facing neck pain, 59% facing eye strain and headache due to awkward postures and long screen time without necessary breaks. The research indicated that employees in customer interfacing roles need rejuvenation areas in workplaces to prevent fatigue and mental burnout. In addition to this, the research study revealed that 41% bank lacks staff lounge and 31% lacks comfortable furniture in staff lounge in rejuvenation areas in workplaces.

Sameer Joshi, Vice President, Marketing (B2B), Godrej Interio said: “India’s banking sector is seeing meteoric growth on the back of robust demand. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) estimates, by 2025, India’s fintech market is expected to reach INR 6.2 trillion. Yet, the study conducted by Godrej Interio’s Workspace and Ergonomic Research Cell suggests that, both public and private sector banks need to focus on creating environments conducive to employee wellbeing. Bankers now spend long and often stressful hours multitasking between digital screens on one side of their desks and sitting across the table with customers who visit the branch physically for assistance. This research study aims to help banks design relevant workplace with well-planned and ergonomic infrastructure to keep MSDs at bay. Banks, the epicentre of a nation’s financial framework, must ensure good health and wellbeing of their employees while at work. Prolonged working hours, extended use of gadgets, inadequate breaks, lack of awareness of right postures while working, inappropriate infrastructure, and inefficient space design can have a severe effect on employee health, thereby affecting their overall wellbeing. At Godrej Interio, we are seeing demand for ergonomic furniture in the banking sector and are looking to grow the segment by 21% in this financial year.”

He further added, “Organisations must help teams brace against the potentially limiting repercussions of bad ergonomics. They must lead by example and foster a healthy working environment while focusing on supporting employee wellbeing, productivity, and growth.

Godrej Interio is poised to further expand its footprint in the workspace furniture segment with an aim to achieve 16% market share by 2025. The Ergonomics and Research Cell at Godrej Interio is constantly directing its efforts towards ensuring the creation and curation of customized products & solutions that meet the needs of discerning customers and enhance their experience. The brand’s efforts in this direction are the reason it enjoys high brand-loyalty from its customers.

About Godrej Interio:

Godrej Interio is India’s leading premium furniture brand in both home and institutional segments with a strong commitment to sustainability and centers of excellence in design, manufacturing and retail.

Led by the largest in-house design team in the country in the furniture category and awarded with 34 India Design Mark Awards till date, GODREJ INTERIO aims to transform spaces with its thoughtfully designed furniture to create brighter homes and offices with products that have the highest design quotient in aesthetics, functionality and technology. With consistent pursuit of excellence and a special focus on health and ergonomics, GODREJ INTERIO’s product portfolio comprises of a wide range of solutions

Today, we design and manufacture furniture for office spaces, homes, educational institutes, healthcare facilities, laboratories and more. Along with furniture we offer Audio Visual and 360 Degree Turnkey solutions. Each of our product range revolves around comfort and aesthetics while delivering well-designed, long lasting and functional furniture solutions. In short, Godrej Interio helps the consumers to make every space the perfect setting for their myriad moods and moments.

Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive showrooms and 800 dealers, is one of the largest divisions of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the Godrej Group, one of India’s largest engineering and customer product groups.

Godrej Interio has 7 manufacturing facilities situated at Mumbai, Khalapur, Haridwar, Shirwal, and Bhagwanpur. GODREJ INTERIO’s Shirwal Plant is Green Co Platinum Certified, and Mumbai Plants are Green Co Gold Certified. GODREJ INTERIO is widely known for its comprehensive sustainability certifications for its products in furniture category.

GODREJ INTERIO commitment to the environment has resulted in manufacturing products with lesser environment footprint. Our pioneering efforts include designing less environment burdening products, usage of eco-friendly materials and setting up less polluting and consuming processes, ensuring eco-friendly packaging and transportation and finally the extended responsibility of recycling/reuse of used furniture and scrap, thus ensuring a lifecycle approach to green. GODREJ INTERIO has the widest range of green choices for our customers which not only includes products but also services such as green interiors and recycling.

The brand boasts of noteworthy awards received so far- CII Exim Bank Award for Business Excellence 2016, Superbrands 2017-18, Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand 2018 Gold (Home Furniture and Modular Kitchen), TRA’s India’s Most Consumer focused brand 2019, GreenCo Star Performer Award 2019, National Energy Leader Award at CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2018.