Working from home and its pitfalls
I recently went to see my daughter, who has been working from home regularly since coronavirus. She was sitting at her desk with a laptop in front of her, a second screen, an external keyboard and a headset on her head. The desk was nice and tidy and there were only a few sheets of paper with notes on them.
I noticed her posture. Her back was not at all SUVA-compliant, her neck was stretched out, and I had the impression that she had to strain to read the tables on her small laptop screen properly. At the same time, she was comparing these entries with an Excel spreadsheet on her additional, relatively small screen. She had bought the latter herself so that she could somehow organize herself at home for work.
She told me that she has an ergonomic workstation in the office. With a cave screen, so large and clear. The desk at home... well. But she had the option of buying a standing desk through her store. No, she wouldn't get it for free.
So much for health in times of Corona.
If senior citizens are involved in the work process and have to work from home, they will probably have the same difficulties as my daughter. Health in old age is being discussed at all levels, not least by the Basel-Stadt Department of Health, which is currently developing visions for old age by means of a survey. But I miss the critical view of old age and work. When it comes to old age, people only ever talk about volunteering, helping, care and social isolation. But there are also active senior citizens, like us here at Seniors@Work, who are not yet retiring to their "old age", but are actively and independently involved in the work process.
That's why I'm calling on you, dear reader! Contact the Department of Health and take part in the online survey! Here is the link:
https://www.gd.bs.ch/dossiers-projekte/alterspolitik.html
You can fill out the form until September 20, 2020. And don't hesitate to share your opinion in the comments section.
And last but not least, I hope that all of you who work or offer to work from home have a better working situation than my daughter. Stay healthy!
Beatrice Isler
