Microsoft Study Says Repetitive Strain Injury Costs $600m

4roddas writes "Work-related RSI cases are at an all-time high and the cost to businesses is spiraling, new Microsoft research reveals. Repetitive strain injury cases have soared by over 30 percent in the last year, costing businesses over US$600 million in lost working hours — and causing pain and debilitating discomfort to over-worked staff. Microsoft claims the rapidly emerging trend of 'mobile working' — with office-based employees now working on the move for an average of an hour more per day than they did two years ago using laptops and mobile devices — is behind this alarming climb in work-related injury. The company arrived at its conclusions in a poll among over 1,000 office workers, HR managers and office managers. This showed that 68 percent of office workers suffered from aches and pains, with the most common symptoms including back ache, shoulder pain and wrist/hand pain."

In other words

[Anonymous Coward]

From the article: The research suggests that one of the main factors behind the high number of injuries is because not enough companies are replacing their existing office equipment with ergonomic hardware that can significantly reduce the risk of RSI.

Translation:

"...not enough companies are replacing their existing office equipment with ergonomic hardware that can run Vista."

I don't think Microsoft wants to go there...

[Dancindan84]

Next they should do a study on how much extra "Your computer wants to do something mundane and we need to you click another box. Confirm or Deny?" clicks contribute to RSI.

Ahh that explains...

[Splab]

why Microsoft insists on changing user interface on each and every release - they are doing it to protect us! My heroes!

I imagine

[Rik Sweeney]

this is from people continuously having to press CTRL + ALT + DEL

Thank you, I'm here all night! Try the veal!

Ctrl-Alt-Del......

[3seas]

go figure...

Re:Known cure

[ozbird]

"Do not stick needle in remaining eye."

pffft

[circletimessquare]

most of these injuries are due to the poor ergonomics of stooping over a laptop placed on your lap

what i've done is devoted my eating regimen to ice cream, fast food, and sugary sodas, thereby establishing a nice shelf space, massive rolls of belly fat, on which to perch my laptop. now that my laptop is securely nestled close to my face, my wrists assume a natural curvature during typing, my back is straight rather than stooped over, and i've even reduced my eye strain

therefore, i heartily (cough wheeze) endorse a high calorie regimen to decrease RSI via belly perching your laptop for better ergonomics. its a dramatic improvement in joint health

Re:We have treatment options at work

[gstoddart]

My employer (Sabre Holdings) offers Active Release Therapy (ART)

Wow, that just sounds so ... naughty. Like "Massage with happy ending" or something. ;-)

I wish my company would implement such a policy. I'm sure I'd be much more productive after a little morning 'release' to get my day off to a good start. :-P

Cheers