According to research, the industries where employees are likely to stand all day are often catering and hospitality. Prolonged standing can also be associated with health problems – both mild and chronic. In the UK, 470,000 workers suffer from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Over an extended period of time, this type of sustained muscle fatigue can also result in health issues, regardless of an individual’s age.
Our feet are quite small yet they help us carry heavy loads – our bodies! The impact of each step exerts a tremendous force upon them and this force can be 50% greater than your body weight. A large number of foot problems have been connected to the repetitive motions of moving around frequently or standing for long periods of time at work.
At Shoes For Crews, our mission and passion are to create supportive, durable and comfortable work shoes for workers across multiple professions. We aim to reduce the risk of slips and trip hazards while ensuring your employees’ feet are supported all day.
Keep reading to learn the risks of wearing heavy footwear vs. lightweight footwear.
Risks of wearing heavy footwear
Workers who are on their feet most of the day almost end up wearing their work shoes longer than any of their other footwear. Injuries and other health problems may occur when improper shoes are worn regularly. It is important to find a solution that is not too tight, not too heavy, does not rub against the skin or sock and has adequate thermal protection for all types of weather.
Wearing heavy footwear in particular can cause:
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Plantar fasciitis
- Fallen arches and flat feet
- Secondary injuries to the neck, spine, knees or hips
- Strain on ligaments, muscles and nerves in feet
Supportive, durable shoes can help decrease the risk of strains on the muscles that can lead to work-related or chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Read on to learn more about the advantages of choosing lightweight work shoes and how they can help your workforce excel on the job.
Benefits of choosing lightweight work shoes for your employees
Whether your employees need an athletic style, best suited for waiters, baristas, and cashiers, or a casual style, suitable for hostesses, managers and front-facing staff, you will find a variety of styles and choices from Shoes For Crews.
And the good news is these work shoes are lightweight and can help prevent and reduce the risk of chronic foot problems. Let us take a look at the list below and learn the benefits of wearing lightweight work shoes.
Lightweight work shoes keep pressure off feet
As we mentioned before, many occupations deal with standing for long hours and running across all kinds of different hard surfaces. Back pain can occur more often in workers who stand for most of the day compared to others who spend all day sitting. Changing surfaces can also contribute to greater stress to the soles of the feet.
Our lightweight work shoes and trainers are constructed to have great ventilation. Their comfy foam compound makes each step feel lighter. Shoes For Crews lightweight shoe styles boast new insole technology and a cushion construction that provides greater comfort while walking or moving through the day.
Lightweight work shoes lessen impact and reduce fatigue
While lightweight work shoes are obviously more comfortable, you may wonder how they can lessen the impact on feet and increase shock absorbance. Our foam composite technology makes every step 100 grams lighter. If you spread that across an 8-hour shift, your team will feel tremendous relief of the legs, joints and knees.
With our use of high-quality materials, the upper sole retains an optimal level of air moving through the shoe. This is so it can maintain chemical resistance and durability. Shoes For Crews can help ease tired feet and fatigued muscles so your employees can focus on the more important tasks at hand.
Lightweight work shoes help staff focus on work without concern about injury
Food service and hospitality staff tend to take over 30,000 steps a day at their jobs. That is three times more than the number of steps the average British person takes per day, according to the NHS.
Baristas and servers will most likely come into contact with slippery surfaces more often than any other occupation. Our lightweight work shoes can protect them against slips and falls, are easy to clean and care for and boast excellent durability. All of these positives can further push worries and concerns out of the way.
So now you have learned some of the advantages of choosing lightweight work shoes. These are only the three main benefits we wanted to highlight in this article but there are many more reasons why opting for a shoe that is lightweight and fits properly is a good decision.
If you are looking to boost productivity within your staff, lightweight work shoes can help them complete their tasks faster and more at ease. For more information on specific styles or to learn more about the advantages lightweight work shoes offer, please contact us and we would be pleased to lend a hand!
