When a CT scan earlier this year revealed Lorraine Claro had two herniated discs and nerve damage, her workload came to an abrupt halt.
Lorraine Claro, Assistant to the Associate VP (Research & International Relations), works at her new electric desk. A back injury has limited Claro’s ability to sit, so the desk comes to her.
However, less than a month later, and despite not being able to sit, the assistant to Associate VP (Research & International Relations) is back at work two hours a day (every other day) thanks to an ergonomic-friendly electric desk.
“I was doing work on the laptop at home, but there is only so much you can accomplish when all the confidential files are in the office,” says Claro, in her first week back to work. “But now I can be back in the office, it’s great.”
Not being able to sit, Claro’s workstation literally comes to her.
The three-part telescopic desk is modified with two low-voltage DC motors that can take the desk from just two feet, should someone else need to sit at the desk, to more than four feet in cases such as Claro’s.
“I never knew such desks existed,” says Claro. “It’s a huge plus for me to be able to out of the house and back to work.”
Being monitored by her family physician, along with assistance from Western’s Rehabilitation Services, Claro is hopeful she may be able to extend her time back at work in the near future.
Barbara Froats, Rehabilitation Coordinator with Western’s Rehabilitation Services, says the Transitional Accommodation Program takes a proactive approach to assisting employees to remain at work or to return to work in a timely manner.
“We try to individualize it to whatever the person’s essential duties are and their recovery process,” says Froats, adding the infrastructure at Western, along with supportive supervisors, is allowing the employee to fully contribute to the workplace.
“I’m just so happy to be back at work,” says Claro.
The cost of the desk with installation was about $2,000, plus an addition fee of about $450 for screen support. This type of equipment is usually available from an office supply firm.