The Business of Ergonomics Podcast

Hosted by Darcie Jaremey

Business

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Episodes

199

Latest episode

Jun 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

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 interventionsThe 'improvised fixes' signal: why cardboard boxes under monitors are a diagnostic finding, not just a quirky habitWhy 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 inThe 40% reduction finding and how to present comprehensive assessment ROI to a client who's already tried 'fixing it' on their ownWhether 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.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

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 contentThis 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.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

May 11, 202633 min

Exoskeletons: Game-Changer or the New Back Belt? What the Research Actually Says

Exoskeletons are showing up in warehouses, distribution centres, construction sites, and surgical suites and the marketing behind them is compelling. But before your clients start outfitting their workforce in wearable tech, there's a question that isn't being asked loudly enough: are we solving the ergonomic problem, or just covering it up?We dive into a direct parallel between the exoskeleton boom and the back belt era of the 1990s, a time when an intuitively appealing device was adopted widely, rapidly, and without adequate evidence, creating a false sense of protection while the underlying ergonomic hazards went unaddressed. NIOSH eventually concluded that back belts should not be recommended for occupational use. Are we heading down the same road?We dive into including a 2024 systematic review of 49 studies, CCOHS guidance on overreliance, and peer-reviewed evidence on risk transfer, deconditioning, adoption barriers, and the donning and doffing problem to give you a clear-eyed, evidence-based framework for when exoskeletons make sense and, more importantly, when they don't.What you'll take away from this episode:• The back belt history and what the science said, what the industry did anyway, and why it matters now• The superman effect and deconditioning: what happens when a device makes workers feel more protected than they are• What the research actually shows about exoskeleton effectiveness, including the lab vs. real-world gap• Five critical concerns: risk transfer, overreliance, donning/doffing time, the enthusiasm drop, and long-term compliance• Where exoskeletons belong in the hierarchy of controls, and why they're often being deployed at the wrong level• High-impact, low-cost alternatives that should come first• The specific conditions where exoskeletons genuinely add valueIf you're an ergonomics consultant advising clients on technology decisions, or a practitioner trying to make the case for doing the ergonomic work properly before reaching for expensive tools, this episode is required listening.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

May 4, 202623 min

May the (Work)Force Be With You: A Participatory Ergonomics Special

In a galaxy not so far away....actually, probably your office, your warehouse, or your clinic, workers are getting injured by the same conditions, year after year, because nobody asked them what was wrong.This May the 4th, we're celebrating the most powerful force in workplace safety: your workforce.In this special episode, discover what separates a reactive ergonomics program from one that actually prevents injuries, and the answer isn't fancier equipment or a bigger budget. It's participation. It's structure. And it's knowing the difference between measuring what already went wrong and measuring what's about to.You'll walk away with:The lagging vs. leading indicator framework that shifts a program from reactive to proactiveThe tiered assessment model that lets organizations scale ergonomics without requiring a credentialed ergonomist at every locationThe IWH Participative Ergonomic Blueprint: the gold-standard framework for building a PE program that actually lastsThe ROI data you need to make the business case (spoiler: the average payback period is less than one year)The three most common PE program mistakes and exactly how to avoid themWhether you're an ergonomics consultant helping a client build something sustainable, or a practitioner trying to get leadership to finally take this seriously, this one's for you.May the (work)force be with you. Always.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

April 24, 202625 min

Your Best Marketing Asset Is Already in Your Notes App: How to Turn Client Wins Into Content That Closes

Every ergonomics consultant has them, moments where you walk out of an assessment and think, that actually made a real difference. The worker who came in defeated. The setup that needed one adjustment. The Amazon cart full of products that never needed to be purchased. But most of us let those moments evaporate. We don't write them up, don't post them, don't share them, and in doing so, we leave our most powerful marketing content sitting completely untapped.In this episode, discover why client success stories are the highest-credibility marketing tool available to ergonomics consultants, and exactly what to do with them. Find out why one post is never enough (the forgetting curve is real, and the numbers will surprise you), why the AI content explosion has actually made authentic human stories more valuable, and how to turn a single client win into content that works across email, LinkedIn, lead magnets, sales conversations, and your own assessment deliverables.What you'll take away:• Why the "I'll just buy something" objection is one of the most common — and how a real story dismantles it instantly• The Rule of Seven, the forgetting curve, and what the research actually says about how many touchpoints it takes to convert a prospect• Why AI has raised the value of authentic stories, not lowered it• The full content recycling playbook: email, LinkedIn, lead magnets, proposals, deliverables, and scheduling• The 3 things every client success story accomplishes: competence, integrity, and meeting people where they are• The one action to take this week — no matter where you are in your businessThis episode is for every ergonomics consultant who has ever poured their heart into a post and heard nothing back — and wants to understand why that happens, and what to do instead.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

April 13, 202640 min

Active vs. Passive Outreach: How to Build a Client Pipeline That Works at Every Stage of Your Ergonomics Business

Most ergonomics practitioners are brilliant clinicians, but when it comes to getting clients, they're working with only half an engine. In this episode, discover the two types of outreach every ergonomics consultant needs: active outreach (the gas engine that drives immediate results) and passive outreach (the electric motor that compounds over time and eventually carries most of the load).Get exactly how these two approaches work together at each stage of business, from the bootstrap phase, where 80% of your energy goes into direct outreach, through the growth phase where the balance shifts, all the way to the mature practice where passive systems are doing the heavy lifting while you focus on deepening relationships and strategic partnerships.You'll also get a deep dive into the Value Ladder Strategy, an awesome business development tool for new practitioners and a practical roadmap of action steps based on exactly where you are in your business right now.In this episode:The two-engine model: why you need both active and passive outreach, and how the ratio shiftsWhat active outreach actually looks like and why it's not the sleazy sales approach you might fearThe Value Ladder Strategy: how a free lunch-and-learn can turn into a five-figure contractWhy passive outreach alone will sink a new practice (and what to build instead)The three-phase business maturity framework: Bootstrap → Growth → MatureConcrete action steps for wherever you are right nowWhether you're just getting started or you're a few years in and wondering why the clients aren't flowing more consistently, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework for building a pipeline that actually works.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

April 4, 202635 min

Alternative Seating: What the Research Actually Says (And What We've Been Getting Wrong)

Kneeling chairs. Saddle seats. Active chairs. Exercise balls. You've probably been asked about all of them, and maybe you've given answers based on incomplete information.In this episode, we dig into what the research actually shows and more importantly, what it doesn't. We examine a critical flaw in one of the most-cited studies on alternative seating that changes how you should interpret the findings. We explore why "fixing the pelvis" doesn't automatically fix the neck. Key insight: The ideal sitting posture isn't "upright" or "neutral." It's variable. And that reframe changes everything about how you approach seating recommendations.If you want to be the ergonomist who understands this category at a level your competitors don't, this episode is for you.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

March 18, 202623 min

The 29 inch Problem

Most office ergonomics problems aren't posture problems. They're furniture design problems wearing a musculoskeletal symptom costume. In this episode, you'll discover two real office assessments completed by Ergonomics Blueprint student Georgina as part of her OEA certification review. The two clients have different setups, different complaints, and different body types. But once Darcie and Georgina run the numbers, the same root cause surfaces in both: a standard 29-inch desk designed for a 1970s average male body, sitting in front of someone it was never built for.This episode covers: • Why the ANSI/BIFMA standard desk height fails shorter and petite workers — and how often you'll encounter this in the field• The biomechanical cascade that flows from a too-high work surface: shoulder elevation, wrist extension, contact stress, and perching• Keyboard trays and compact keyboards — why they work, how to configure them correctly, and when to use each• The research on armrests: the 10% upper-extremity offloading benefit when positioned correctly, and why removal is sometimes the right call• Sit-stand desk compliance: what peer-reviewed studies show about abandonment after the honeymoon period• Treadmill desks at low speeds: the BYU, Koepp, and Funk studies on what actually happens to performance• Report writing nuance: cascading recommendations, conditional language, and the 'suggestions vs. recommendations' liability question• Pricing follow-up assessments and building that into your practice model Whether you're just entering the world of office ergonomics or you've been doing assessments for years, this episode will change how you approach the first five minutes of every workstation assessment.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

March 13, 202620 min

From Clinician to Consultant: The Business Foundations That Build a Thriving Ergonomics Practice

Most healthcare professionals who move into ergonomics consulting don't struggle with the science — they struggle with the business. In this episode, Darcie Jaremey draws on insights from a conversation with Erin, a Canadian ergonomist who left clinical rehab to build her own consulting practice, to explore the gap between clinical competence and commercial sustainability.Darcie unpacks the current state of the global ergonomics market — valued at $900 million in 2025 and growing — and explains why the demand for qualified consultants has never been higher. From the hidden costs of workplace musculoskeletal injuries to tightening government regulations worldwide, the opportunity is real.You'll also hear the practical business-building systems every ergonomics consultant should have in place before they're busy — including a standardized assessment template, a clear pricing structure, a simple report format, and a 60-second elevator pitch. Plus, Darcie covers the bootstrapping mindset that helps new consultants build profitability sustainably, without chasing investors or burning out on underpriced contracts.What you'll learn in this episode:• Why the global ergonomics market is accelerating — and how to position yourself to capture it• The real cost of workplace MSDs and how to use that data in client conversations• What bootstrapping means for ergonomics consultants (and why it works)• The foundational systems to build before you land your first client• How affinity marketing and networking can grow your practice faster than adsWhether you're just getting started or looking to bring more structure to an existing practice, this episode gives you a clear, grounded framework for building a consulting business that lasts.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.

March 3, 202633 min

From Clinic to Consulting: How Erin Built an Ergonomics Business from Scratch

Erin went from clinical rehab to running his own ergonomics consulting practice, and it didn't happen overnight. In this episode, he shares the real story: starting with just a handful of assessments a year, underpricing his services, relocating to a new city, and rebuilding his network from zero by choosing collaboration over competition.We talk pricing mistakes, imposter syndrome, the cyclical nature of consulting, and why strong assessments will always beat a perfect website. If you're thinking about starting or growing an ergonomics practice, this one's for you.If you're a healthcare professional and this episode got your wheels turning about office ergonomics - good. I've got free resources to help you take the next step at ergonomicshelp.com/resources.