While there have been many remarkable inventions throughout history, the person invents an undo button for life itself will be a billionaire many times over.
After all, who among us hasn’t craved -- or prayed -- for a chance to turn back the clock, and avoid a mistake that, alas, seemed like a good idea at the time? And in our experience which stems back for more than 30 years, possibly the single biggest regret we hear from business owners and executives is that they assumed installing office furniture themselves would be a simple, easy job. After all, “what can go wrong?”
Well, PLENTY can go wrong, including the following:
- Damage and Destruction
Office furniture is deceptively complex, and what may look like a few pieces is typically more like 20 or 30. Each item has to be installed the right way, in the right order, and using the right tools (both power tools and hand tools). Any misstep along the way will almost certainly damage or, in some cases, destroy the item. And considering that even a basic workstation or cubicle can easily cost thousands of dollars, the financial consequences are significant and quickly add up.
- Injuries
It’s not something that most people think about, but trust us on this because we’ve been in the industry for decades and have seen or heard everything: installing office furniture improperly is a major health hazard. Well-meaning employees who are just trying to help (or were possibly “volun-told” by their boss to lend a hand) get injured all the time, and either end up taking extended leave from work, or wind up in an ambulance.
What’s more, improperly installed office furniture can “look” just as robust as properly installed office furniture, in the same way that a reliable car can look like an unreliable one. As a result, employees can use such furniture for days, weeks or even months without incident, but then suddenly it happens: a cubicle topples over, a workstation collapses, a shelf comes crashing down, and so on. These are NOT accidents. They are 100% preventable, and a direct – though delayed – result of improperly installed office furniture.
- Lawsuits & Medical Care Costs
Businesses that install office furniture themselves – regardless of their intentions – expose themselves to legal action and covering medical care costs if employees are injured; either while installing furniture, or as a result of defective installation (as noted above). These costs can be massive, and the incident can also damage a business’s reputation, which could take years to fix.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is clear: the problem with installing office furniture yourself is that it’s a BAD IDEA. The risks are huge, and the consequences can be severe. As such – and until some brilliant inventor creates an “undo button” for life -- the right and only move is to hire a professional furniture installation company. You’ll be glad you did, and so will your employees!