This chapter is not simply about office layout and furnishing. Well-designed, well-arranged workspaces transform the culture
of the company: they make exchanges easier, strengthen the sense of belonging, and inspire people. Undeniably, ergonomics influences
how people think, feel, and collaborate. You therefore have a serious asset there, particularly for reducing absences due to back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. And then it will help you retain talent!

• Create modern and stimulating office spaces. I am particularly sensitive to the concept of biophilic design55 which draws inspiration from nature to design better office spaces. This type of arrangement prioritizes, among other things, natural lighting, indoor plants, unobstructed views, and noise reduction.
• Invest in ergonomic furniture and give your team enough leeway to arrange it to their liking. This will not only allow you to prevent drops in productivity; it is also a way to show people that you appreciate them. Thus, they will be more likely to want to demonstrate their qualities and stay with the organization for a long time. Ergonomic workstations also significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
• Design modular office spaces with private and public areas. Some tasks require calm to concentrate, while others demand frequent exchanges with colleagues. A modular space improves overall productivity by simultaneously meeting these diverse needs. Unnecessary interruptions are greatly reduced.
• Offer flexible working conditions. For example, «à la carte» schedules that help people reconcile their professional commitments with their private lives. Also consider remote work:
  home office or coworking space.
• Reduce physical risks in the workplace as much as possible. Verify that your organization complies with current health and safety standards.

• Workspaces affected by major defects. This can be, for example, insufficient natural lighting, poorly compensated by often excessive artificial light. This results in a risk of glare and thus increased eye fatigue. Also, let's mention air that is too dry, unpleasant odors, or annoying noise.
• Disorder. A messy workspace harms team performance and concentration. Not to mention the bad impression it makes on your colleagues and visitors… or the risk of accidents: some people could indeed trip and fall.
• Only seeing the costly aspect of ergonomic offices, instead of considering them a wise investment. Poorly designed spaces lead to back problems (typically, lower back pain) and/or other musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome), in addition to headaches, or even migraines. Often, these costs end up exceeding – by far – the average budget for an ergonomically well-designed workplace.
• Poorly designed workstations for prolonged tasks in a sitting position. Beware of back pain that degenerates into a chronic problem! Take the trouble to consult an ergonomics specialist to choose office furniture. Inform your team and check the correct configuration of each workstation. Draw people's attention to the importance of regularly changing position, especially when working seated, and remind them of the benefit of breaks for recovery. Everyone should feel free to stand up, stretch, take a few steps, lie down for a moment in a quiet or relaxation area.
• Forgetting to look after the well-being and health of your team. Do not discourage them from reporting early warning signs of physical problems. There may be social pressure not to dwell on our daily ailments. This does not prevent the fact that, from the legislator's point of view, the employer is responsible for doing everything in their power to protect the health and safety of their employees.