Margaux Lantelme discovered an unexpected workplace disparity during her European travels: retail workers sat while working. Back at her Chicago REI store, eight-hour standing shifts aggravated chronic pain dating to her kayaking career. Prolonged standing created bureaucratic hurdles when she requested accommodations. 'Getting doctor approvals cost months and insurance fees for basic needs,' Lantelme told AP investigators.
Scientific studies validate her concerns. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health links extended standing to:
- Chronic back/joint pain
- Cardiovascular strain
- Pregnancy complications
Operating room nurses face particularly severe risks. AORN’s Lisa Spruce advises anti-fatigue strategies:
'Use sit-stand stools, supportive footwear, and footrests to improve circulation during 12-hour shifts.'
Cecilia Ortiz’s airport experience underscores systemic issues. Wheelchair attendants without seating resorted to sitting on floors during breaks. 'Five hours without rest destroyed my knees,' said Ortiz, now at a warehouse with seating access.
Unionized Barnes & Noble employees made seating rights a contract demand after workers developed chronic knee injuries. Bookseller Bear Spiegel explains:
'Shelving books requires constant bending. A stool prevents flare-ups during computer tasks.'
Legal precedents reveal shifting norms. Seven states now enforce right-to-sit laws, while Michigan expands protections for retail/food service workers. These reforms counter early 20th-century policies that restricted seating to female employees for questionable maternal health reasons.
With 67% of service industry workers standing full-time, occupational health experts urge proactive measures. Retail unions advocate contract clauses guaranteeing seating where feasible – a movement gaining traction from Ann Arbor to Manhattan.
