Best Work Shoes for Feet at Work

Recent studies state that almost 50% of all individuals spend a minimum of 4 hours on their feet at work, either standing or walking around. Most of these people work in the manufacturing and service sectors, which include sales-persons, industrial workers, cashiers, and attendants at supermarkets/ malls, and people from the hotel and hospitality work-force. Nurses, doctors, airline personnel and restaurant workers spend much more time on their feet; since they are usually working about 8 to 12 shifts a day. To complicate matters further, many of these service jobs require certain types of professional footwear only, so comfortable sneakers are not even an option for them.

Working on your feet for long periods of time can cause quite a bit of stress and discomfort in the long run. Luckily, you can ensure that you use the right type of shoes which help alleviate foot and back pain. Here are some easy rules which will help you pick ideal shoes for work -

Shoes With a Low Heel - Contrary to popular belief, completely flat shoes are not the ideal option if you need to stand on your feet all day long. Research says that your heel should be elevated by at least a quarter-inch, to allow good arch support.Shoes With a Large Toe Box - Choose shoes that have a wide toe box. Feet tend to swell during the day, so by late afternoon, your feet are at their largest. Make sure there is enough wiggle room for your toes in the front of the shoe.Shoes With Laces – If you wear shoes with laces or a Velcro strap, it helps to avoid your feet from sliding forward while walking. Shoelaces are quite similar to the seat-belt in a car - it stops your foot from unwanted movement and protects it from possible injuries.Shoes With Good Arch Support - When shopping for shoes, choose a retailer that specializes in work shoes, rather than a wholesale store. Make sure that the shoes have adequate arch support. You can also purchase an orthotic as a replacement insole for a customized shoe.

Safety Footwear

• Today, right from those working in front of the desk at an office, to those working on a production line in a factory, there are strict health and safety work laws that one must adhere to. With new government regulations, changes in the judicial system and employees taking companies to court over lapses of safety regulation, there has been a. rise in the popularity of safety footwear and protective clothing at work.

Let’s take steel toe safety shoes as an example, which is designed for those working at building or construction site. They help protect the worker’s feet from an injury that can be caused by the nails, concrete, bricks, heavy machinery and other hazardous items around. Without the proper safety footwear, there could be some nasty accidents. These steel toes safety shoes help to protect workers and they are a must-have for construction sites.

Most women nowadays choose the wrong type of shoes for work, which is bad for their body, and will cause all sorts of health problems down the line. Advertising, style-trends, and brands entice the female office workers with shoes that are impossible to move in and impractical to work in. The working woman should avoid wearing high-heeled contraptions in the office. It’s better to go for low-heeled, comfy shoes that help you a workout while you walk, helping you tone and trim your legs at the same time. These shoes help posture and circulation, improving your muscles and joints, and overall health.

Sujain Thomas is Data IT professional and blogger