Sit-stand desks
Why you’d use a sit-stand desk
Too much sitting affects your health, increasing your risk of illness and disease – even if you exercise regularly.
Sitting less and moving more:
- reduces your risk of chronic diseases
- helps with weight management
- lowers your risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
The Heart Foundation recommends:
- taking regular breaks from sitting to reduce chronic disease risk
- using workplace strategies to sit less and move more.
Even if you’re fairly active, you can still sit for long periods during the day. Standing breaks are important for everyone.
Managers and supervisors can promote a standing-friendly culture by raising awareness and modelling the behaviour.
Tips for moving more at work
- Take standing break from your desk every 30 minutes
- Stand for phone calls
- Eat lunch away from your desk
- Use a sit-stand desk
- Use stairs instead of lifts
- Use bins and printers further from your workstation
- Visit colleagues' desks instead of phoning or emailing
- Stand during presentations
- Park further away from work
- Take standing breaks in long meetings
- Hold standing meetings
- Hold walking meetings
- Stand to greet visitors
Equipment that helps
- Headset for phone calls so you can stand and walk
- Active transportation (walk or ride a bike to work, or stand while on public transport).
Monash’s approach to sitting less
Taking more frequent breaks from sitting helps improve health and wellbeing. Where possible, review job and task design to reduce sitting time.
To encourage movement, use utilities like bins, printers and toilet facilities that are further away from your workstation.
Individual areas can determine their requirements for sit-stand workstations based on budget and priorities.
New buildings and refurbishments should include a high proportion of sit-stand desks, based on function and layout.
Ordering a sit-stand desk
Before you order, you'll need to:
- Discuss your request with your manager or supervisor.
- Check you have a dedicated power point for the desk.
- Make sure there are no overhead shelves or storage in the way when the desk is raised.
Who pays and who approves:
- Sit-stand desks are paid for by your department, who will decide whether a request for a sit-stand desk is reasonable, considering budgetary constraints, your work tasks, and other factors. Desks start from around A$1,400.
- Your facility manager must approve an order before it can be placed.
Approved suppliers
These suppliers can provide a quote for Monash-approved models. Desks can only be purchased in these Laminex® laminate colours: White 200 and Select Beech.
| Supplier | Contact | Monash-approved model |
|---|---|---|
| Schiavello | info@schiavello.com (03) 9330 8888 https://schiavellofurniture.com | Krossi |
| Watson Commercial | sales@watsonci.com.au (03) 9873 8484 https://watsonci.com.au | Mirri |
| Ergonomics 101 | https://www.ergonomics101.com.au (03) 9591 6262 | Selectric |
Approved sizes
Standard sizes:
- 1500mm L x 800mm D (1.5m long, 80cm deep)
- 1800mm L x 800mm D (1.8m long, 80cm deep)
- 2100mm L x 800mm D (2.1m long, 80cm deep)
Desk specifications
Your sit-stand desk may come installed with a below-desk cable tray and powerpack that contains power and data points, which will be tagged for electrical compliance.
How to set up your sit-stand desk
Alternate between sitting and standing throughout your day. Stand as long as possible to get the full benefits, and make sure to walk for two minutes every hour or so.
Use these resources to adjust your desk for sitting:
- workstation set-up interactive tool
- office ergonomics guideline.
When sitting, keep your:
- thighs parallel to the ground, hips and knees at 90–100°
- feet flat on the floor
- bottom at the back of the chair, with the back of your thighs clear of the seat
- lower back supported by the backrest, backrest angled at 90–110°
- forearms at or just above desk height
- shoulders relaxed, not hunched
- elbows at your sides at 90–110° when typing
- wrists straight and in line with forearms, keyboard flat with G and H keys under your nose
- head upright, ears in line with shoulders
- eyes level with the top third of your screen.
- Relax your shoulders and bend your elbows to 90°.
- Adjust the desk height to just below your forearms.
While standing:
- shift your weight from one leg to the other to reduce leg fatigue
- adjust your posture frequently.
While using your sit-stand desk
- Take breaks away from your computer.
- Do stretching exercises regularly.
- Don't connect heaters or fans to the desk's powerpack – this can overload the motor.
Need help?
Contact the Health, Safety & Wellbeing team by emailing hsw@monash.edu.