Best way to ask/force an employer to give you better office equipment (eg. Chairs)

Question

I hate my chair at work, it is just never comfortable, but its a 0.000001% chance that I would get a new one. What is the best way to ask or require them to get me a new one (doctor's note or something)

Answer 1

If you have something like scoliosis or the like, you could try with a medic's diagnose. If not, either ask for some new chair or

• ruin the current one (bend legs, break backplate, be inventive!)
• find an unused (better) one in the building and do the switch
• bring your own (try to go for something fishy, like a kneeling chair or something bombastic, throne-like, easily identifiable as your chair, so others don't feel tempted to make it their own).

Answer 2

You could just always go out and buy your own and hope for a reimbursement...

If you are having back pain or other sorts of issues, a doctor's note would probably be your best bet. You may be able to find someone who has a chair that is comfortable for you and swap with them too...

Answer 3

Tell them just to imagine how expensive a single bug due to lack of concentration because of an uncomfortable chair is.

In comparision a to that a proper chair is cheap.

Answer 4

Just buy your own and bring it to work. You'd own it so you can take it with you when you leave. Man up.

Answer 5

Businesses exist to make money, not to make you comfortable.

If you want something from a business, you need to show that it affects the business.

Business speaks two languages: Money and time.

Is there a negative impact on the business because of this chair? Something that translates to time or money? Then explain that.