The Business of Ergonomics Podcast

Hosted by Darcie Jaremey

Business

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Episodes

207

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

How do I get started with ergonomics? How do I find paying clients? What type of services should I be offering clients? These are just some of the big questions that Board Certified Professional Ergonomist, Darcie Jaremey digs into with the Business of Ergonomics Podcast. Each episode is designed to get you to take immediate action. Want to learn how to get started with office ergonomic assessments? Want to generate more sales with your services? Discover why Rehab, Healthcare Professionals, and Ergonomists are all turning to Darcie's company ergonomicsHelp.com to learn a new revenue-generating resource and find paying clients.

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60 recent

August 31, 202629 min

Beyond the Assessment: How Ergonomics Risk, Job Demands Analysis, and Functional Accommodations Create a Full-Cycle Service Business

Most ergonomics professionals stop at the assessment. But the businesses in your city need more than that, and if you're only offering one service, you're leaving a significant amount of work on the table. This episode covers the three services that work together to create a full-cycle ergonomics offering: ergonomic risk assessments, physical demands analysis (also called job demands analysis), and functional accommodations. Together, these three create a prevention-to-return-to-work system that every employer should have and most don't. What's covered: Proactive vs. reactive ergonomics risk assessments and how to use reactive entry points to shift companies toward prevention What a physical demands analysis is, why every workplace should have one on file, and why it's one of the highest-fee services you can offer How job demands analysis connects to return-to-work planning and why workers' compensation boards increasingly expect it Functional accommodations: how to compare a worker's functional capabilities to the job demands to support safe, effective return to work Three real-world examples of how these services chain together into weeks of work from a single client The four C's of marketing your ergonomics business: content, consistency, connect, and communication On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

August 26, 202627 min

Ergonomic Chair Evaluation Mastery: The 18-Minute Rule, Chair Features That Actually Matter, and the Ergo Showroom Strategy

Chairs are the number one thing clients ask about and one of the hardest things to recommend well. Not because chairs are complicated, but because of how almost everyone evaluates them: a 30-second sit test that tells the body nothing about what eight hours of use will actually feel like. This episode covers the three things every ergonomics professional needs in their toolkit when it comes to chair selection: the research-backed 18-minute rule, the chair features that actually matter, and the ergo showroom strategy for helping clients try before they buy. What's covered: Why a 2-minute sit test is almost meaningless and what the research says instead The 18-minute rule and why fidgeting is an objective measure of discomfort, not restlessness The chair features that actually matter: lumbar (height and depth), synchro-tilt, multi-tilt, tension control, seat depth, and armrests The note-to-self on synchro-tilt and the tension adjustment that could send your client flying out of the chair Three levels of the ergo showroom strategy: external showroom visits, lending equipment during assessments, and in-house showrooms for larger clients The accommodations and return-to-work angle that makes in-house showrooms a financial no-brainer for larger employers This episode is sponsored by the Ergonomics Blueprint and Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics. New to office ergonomics assessments? Start with the free live training: ergonomicshelp.com/ergo-webinar Already trained and ready to scale your practice? Join Accelerate: ergonomicshelp.com/accelerate Referenced Literature: Cascioli, V., Liu, Z., Heusch, A., & McCarthy, P. (2016). A methodology using in-chair movements as an objective measure of discomfort for the purpose of statistically distinguishing between similar seat surfaces. Applied Ergonomics, 54, 100-109. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

August 5, 202623 min

Features Tell, Benefits Sell: Real Coaching on Pricing, Tiered Services, and Landing Your First Big Client

This episode is a real, unscripted group coaching call from inside the Ergonomics Blueprint program. Every month, Blueprint members get a live session with Darcie where they bring their actual clients, actual pricing questions, and actual challenges. This is what that looks like. One of our members is in the middle of landing a significant new client: a nonprofit emergency response agency that wants a full suite of ergonomics services and has already invited her to their Safety Day. The questions that come up are exactly what practitioners run into when a real opportunity is in front of them and they want to handle it right. What this call covers: How to structure and price follow-up visits so you never get painted into a corner after the quote goes out The tiered service model: discomfort survey, group training, quick workstation checks, and full assessments only for who needs them How to write proposals that sell benefits, not features (and the 'So that?' question that changes how you describe every service) Why presenting quotes in person turned a cautious HR contact into an enthusiastic client The three-option pricing strategy and why the middle option is always the one they pick How to price a project where you don't know upfront exactly how many full assessments will be needed What to give every participant after a group session so the client has documentation and you have a record If you're figuring out how to price your first big client, how to structure a proposal that doesn't scare anyone off, or how to explain the value of what you do to someone who has never heard of a discomfort survey, this call is for you. Ready to get this kind of coaching for your own practice? The Ergonomics Blueprint teaches you how to do office ergonomics assessments from the ground up, including the business side, the pricing, the proposals, and how to bring in the clients to use those skills on. Monthly group coaching calls with Darcie are included. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

July 28, 202627 min

No Standard, Still Liable: 5 Ergonomics Misconceptions That Are Costing Your Clients Money

"We don't have to do this. There's no law that says we have to do ergonomics." "We're already covered. We bought good chairs." Sound familiar? These are the two most common objections ergonomics consultants hear from potential clients. And both of them reflect a regulatory picture that most businesses have completely wrong. In this episode, Darcie Jaremey breaks down the five biggest misconceptions about workplace ergonomics that keep businesses from taking action and from working with qualified practitioners like you. Drawing on a July 2026 legal analysis from JD Supra by labor attorney Sarah Goodman of Offit Kurman, Darcie gives you the accurate regulatory picture and shows you exactly how to use it in your next client conversation. (Here's the full article: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/no-standard-still-liable-how-osha-7637946/) What you'll take away: Why 'no OSHA standard' does not mean 'no duty' and how to explain this to any prospect in under two minutes The General Duty Clause: what it is, why it applies to office ergonomics, and how OSHA used it against Amazon without a single specific ergonomics rule The hazard alert letter most HR managers have never heard of — and why ignoring it builds a willful violation case worth up to $156,259 per violation Why office workers are absolutely not exempt — and the state-level laws in Minnesota, Washington, California, Oregon, and Michigan that prove it Why 'we bought chairs and did training' is purchasing activity, not a safety program and what Cornell University's research says about that he biggest sales reframe in this episode: from 'do we need an assessment?' to 'how do you know what you already spent actually worked?' How to turn every one of these misconceptions into a content piece, a sales conversation, and a reason a client picks up the phone This episode is content you can repurpose 50 times. Darcie explains why these five facts bear repeating across LinkedIn, email, and every client conversation you have. Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics gives ergonomics consultants and healthcare professionals time-saving resources and plug-and-play content so that you can become the Go-To Ergonomics Consultant in your city. Click here to get started. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

July 16, 202632 min

The Fake OSHA Deadline: Debunking the "December 2026" Home-Office Myth

Something has been circulating in our industry, and it's causing real problems for employers and for ergonomics professionals who are trying to build credible practices around genuine client needs. There are articles claiming that employers face a December 2026 OSHA deadline to complete home office ergonomic audits under a new remote work framework. In this episode, Darcie Jaremey digs into where that claim is actually coming from, why it's flat-out false, and what the real regulatory picture looks like for remote worker ergonomics. The short answer: there is no deadline. OSHA's position on home offices has not changed since 2000. But the real obligations employers do have around recordkeeping, workers' compensation, and accommodation law are significant, and the injury data alone makes the case for action without any manufactured urgency attached to it. What you'll take away: Why the December 2026 OSHA deadline is fabricated and who benefits from spreading it OSHA's actual formal guidance on home office inspections, quoted directly from the source The General Duty Clause: what it is, what it requires, and why it applies regardless of where work happens The three real employer obligations that do apply to remote workers right now: recordkeeping under 29 CFR Part 1904, workers' comp exposure, and ADA accommodation law Why a chair purchase is not an ergonomic assessment, and why that matters for both employers and consultants What a real remote ergonomics program actually looks like 61.2% of home-based workers report musculoskeletal discomfort from their home setup. That number is documented, real, and more than enough to justify action. No fake deadline required. Want to build an ergonomics practice that gives clients the accurate picture and earns their trust? That's exactly what Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics is built for. Accelerate gives you the training, tools, and coaching to attract corporate clients, charge what you're worth, and build a practice you're proud of. You'll get monthly live coaching with Darcie, a curated equipment database, done-for-you content and swipe copy, business growth modules, and a community of ergonomics professionals doing the same work you are. Join at ergonomicshelp.com/accelerate Resources mentioned: Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics: ergonomicshelp.com/accelerate OSHA Formal Guidance on Home Offices (1999): osha.gov OSHA Injury Cost Estimator: osha.gov On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

July 11, 202616 min

Why Relying on AI for Ergonomics Assessments Is a Risk You Can't Afford to Take

AI tools are everywhere right now, and the ergonomics world is not immune to the hype. Some healthcare professionals are already looking to AI to do their assessments, generate their reports, and identify ergonomic risk on their behalf. And Darcie Jaremey has something to say about that. In this episode, Darcie makes a clear, direct argument: if you are relying on an AI tool to replace your clinical judgment in an ergonomics assessment, you are putting your clients, your reputation, and your business at serious risk. A one-size-fits-all AI report will not capture the intricacies of a specific workstation, cannot perform a true root cause analysis, and cannot defend you if a client is harmed and the matter goes to litigation. But this is not an anti-AI episode. Darcie also covers exactly where AI belongs in an ergonomics practice: as an efficiency tool on the front end of report writing, never as a replacement for your expertise. What you'll take away: Why office ergonomics is in-demand right now and why your expertise is the thing businesses actually need The real risk of outsourcing your assessment thinking to a tool you don't control What happens to your client data when you put it into a third-party AI platform Why the details in your report are the exact thing clients can't replicate themselves The three tools inside Accelerate that add efficiency without replacing judgment: the swipe file, the equipment database, and the PHI redactor • Why mentorship beats AI every time when you're building your ergonomics foundation If you've been wondering whether AI could shortcut the process of learning to do ergonomics assessments well, this episode will give you a straight answer. Resources mentioned in this episode: Ergonomics Blueprint (learn how to do office ergonomics assessments): ergonomicshelp.com Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics (membership with tools, mentorship, and community): ergonomicshelp.com/biz OSHA Injury Cost Estimator: osha.gov On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

July 7, 202621 min

Why Starting Small Is the Key to Success in Ergonomics Consulting (And the 90-Day Plan That Makes It Real)

Most healthcare professionals who dream of building an ergonomics practice don't fail because they lack skill. They fail because they never had a plan broken down into pieces small enough to actually act on. In this episode, Darcie shares the single tool that has kept her on track more consistently than anything else in building her own business: the 90-Day Goal and Action Plan. It's not complicated. But it works, and in this episode you'll find out exactly why. You'll also hear the honest truth about what gets in the way when healthcare professionals try to launch ergonomics services, why consistency beats intensity every time, and how to reverse-engineer a real income goal so you're never guessing what to do next. What you'll take away from this episode: • Why starting small is not a compromise, it's the actual strategy • The three types of goals you need: safe, hairy scary, and baseline • How to break a $100k/year goal into a $270/day action plan • The minimum viable service for ergonomics consultants, and why it's not a website • Learn-Execute-Learn: the loop that builds skill and business at the same time • Affinity marketing and why it beats cold calling every time in this field • Why the comparison trap kills momentum faster than anything else • The step-by-step 90-day reverse engineering process you can use today • The honest take on AI and why there are no shortcuts in ergonomics assessment Whether you're thinking about ergonomics as a side hustle, a part-time pivot, or a full-time business, this episode gives you the framework to stop waiting and start moving. Want to go deeper with mentorship, tools, and a community of ergonomics professionals building their practices together? Learn more about Accelerate: The Business of Ergonomics at ergonomicshelp.com/biz On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

June 26, 202629 min

The Certification Trap: What No Ergonomics Course Taught You About Actually Building a Business

Ergonomics is not a regulated health profession. You do not need a license to do office ergonomics assessments. And yet there are healthcare professionals all over the world sitting on the sidelines, waiting for a certification that, in most jurisdictions, the law doesn't actually require. That waiting is costing them time, clients, and income they could already be generating. In this episode, we have an honest conversation about the gap that nobody in the ergonomics training world wants to talk about. Most ergonomics courses teach half of the problem. They teach assessments. They don't teach business. And when a healthcare professional finishes a course, gets competent and confident in their assessment skills, and then realizes they have no idea how to find a single client, they're left with a credential and a blank calendar. Listen to this episode to find out these 2 things that true at the same time right now and almost nobody is connecting them: back, neck, and joint pain is the most expensive chronic health condition in North America at over $300 billion a year, and new business formation is at record highs. The demand is real. The practitioners are out there. The gap is visibility, not skill. This episode is about closing that gap. What you'll take away: • The honest truth about ergonomics regulation and why waiting for a license is often waiting for something that doesn't exist • Why competence and confidence matter deeply, and why a bad certification is worse than no certification • The catch-22 that most ergonomics courses create: they teach you to assess but not to find anyone to assess • The $300B context: why the market for ergonomics services has never been bigger or more ready • Why the real barrier right now is visibility, not skill, and what to do about it • Why a chatbot can't solve the business problem, and what actually can If you trained in ergonomics and you're not yet consistently getting clients, this episode will tell you why. And more importantly, what to do next. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

June 4, 202629 min

5 Signs ANY Workplace Needs an Ergonomic Assessment (Not Just New Equipment)

Most companies that need an ergonomic assessment don't know they need one. They've bought new chairs. They've done the wellness training. They've put up the stretch posters. And people are still hurting. So they conclude that ergonomics doesn't work, when the real problem is that they've been buying solutions without ever diagnosing the actual problem. In this episode, we break down 5 clear, observable signs that a workplace needs a proper ergonomic assessment and why recognizing these signs is one of the most powerful tools an ergonomics consultant has for starting a real client conversation. We unpack the research behind why comprehensive ergonomic intervention outperforms equipment-only and training-only approaches, what each sign is actually telling you about the underlying problem, and how to use this framework in your marketing, your proposals, and your very first conversation with a prospective client. In this episode: Why buying new equipment without an assessment almost never solves the problem and what the research says about equipment-only interventions The 'improvised fixes' signal: why cardboard boxes under monitors are a diagnostic finding, not just a quirky habit Why cross-departmental complaints are the red flag that changes the conversation from 'individual problem' to 'systemic issue' Why 'we don't know what's causing it' is the single most expensive position a company can be in The 40% reduction finding and how to present comprehensive assessment ROI to a client who's already tried 'fixing it' on their own Whether you're a new ergonomics consultant building your client base or an experienced practitioner looking for sharper language to open doors, this episode gives you a framework you can use in your next sales conversation this week. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/

May 20, 202621 min

Why Everything You Think You Know About Posture and Pain Is Wrong — And What That Means for Your Practice

Sit up straight. Chin in. Ears over shoulders. Fix your forward head posture and your neck pain will improve. Sound familiar? If you've been in ergonomics for any amount of time, you've probably said some version of this — and so has almost everyone else in our field. But two studies published in April 2026 are pushing back on that framework in ways that every ergonomics professional needs to hear. In this episode, Darcie Jaremey unpacks both studies and what they mean for your assessments, your service offerings, and your sales conversations. The first: a cross-sectional study of 92 adults that found no association between forward head posture and chronic neck pain. The second: an EMG case-control study that found text neck patients showed less muscle activity, not more — which flips the standard 'muscle hyperactivity causes pain' model completely on its head. If the problem isn't overactivation but deconditioning, the intervention your clients need isn't a stretch card. Darcie also covers the April 2026 integrated review showing that combined ergonomic and physical activity interventions produce 38% reductions in neck pain and 37% reductions in hand and wrist pain — compared to education-only programs, which are the weakest approach in the evidence base. And she shows you exactly how to use all of this in your next client proposal. What you'll take away: • Why forward head posture is not as reliable a predictor of neck pain as we've been taught — and how to reframe your recommendations • The text neck EMG finding that changes what intervention actually works for screen-heavy workforces • Why stretching-only and education-only programs are the weakest evidence-based approach — and what to offer instead • The 38% neck pain reduction finding and how to use it to justify combined, longer-term program contracts • Three practical takeaways: audit your posture narrative, upgrade your service offering, and turn this research into your content This is part of a series of episodes diving into the April 2026 ergonomics literature — research you can use in your practice, your proposals, and your marketing this week. On September 16thjoin this free live training and learn the exact system ergonomists are using to build their list, get referred more, and stop undercharging for work that deserves more. https://ergonomicshelp.com/infographic/