Towards healthier life with the employer’s help

Marie Jalkanen, vice CEO of Salli Systems, tells of the world's healthiest sitting concept and about how Salli takes care of its employees. Swedish born Marie Jalkanen is a physiotherapist and sitting health expert.

Passion and commitment

Previously, I used to hate sitting, because sitting on an old-fashioned chair felt uncomfortable in the neck, back, back thighs and buttocks. When I got to try Salli, I felt for the first time in my life that I could finally sit comfortably and in an upright position.

We at Salli are innovative, health-oriented and courageous, and we are a multicultural and international company. We encourage our staff to be initiative and think outside the box. We are not the most traditional company and this is also visible in our work community.

The best thing about our employees is their passion and commitment. We help people around the world to make their sitting and working environments healthier.

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At Salli we are not afraid to challenge and experiment! This is how the world's healthiest sitting concept is born.

Swimming during working hours and personal vitamin measurements

We support the health and wellbeing of our staff in many ways. Everyone can, for example, go swimming during work time, once a day throughout the year. Swimming reduces stress, increases energy and revives circulation. It also increases the amount of brown fat that keeps one warm and burns faster than ordinary fat. Especially ice swimming will give the body a real hormone boost.

We also offer healthy lunch and snacks daily. Additionally, people can choose from various health-enhancing benefits, such as massage and exercise rewards, health lectures, nutritional supplements, and flexible working hours.

The staff can also have their vitamin levels measured regularly, as well as have blood tests for other important markers. The results are delivered directly from the health professionals to each participant personally, followed by a common feedback meeting. By following the results, it is possible to learn how to stay healthier.

Fighting stress with Firstbeat heart rate analysis 

This year, we tried the trendy and illustrative Firstbeat heart rate monitoring. Electrodes that are monitoring heart rate were attached to the body for three days, and then delivered back to Firstbeat professionals for analyzing.

We decided to include Firstbeat in our health benefits so that we could see what things were creating stress during the day. The measurements were made for a period of two working days and one day off. Based on the results, everyone can change their eating, exercise or resting habits. It is really profitable to support the employees' interest and responsibility for their own health.

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Salli Saddle Chairs are manufactured at the premises of Sahala Manor in Rautalampi, Eastern Finland.

Valuable capital

Employees are the company's most valuable capital, and employers should pay attention to work ergonomics even before employees have ailments or illnesses. Tools and furniture should be adapted to human activity rather than vice versa. If you help your staff at an individual level to optimize their health in the best possible way they will do their job better. Then it is beneficial to you both. For example, by replacing an old-fashioned chair with Salli, productivity can rise even 10-20%.

The comprehensive Salli concept

Slogans Sit & Swing, Roll & Reach, Stand & Stretch, Walk & Talk, and Work & Gym describe the essence of Salli concept: the body is designed to move. In order for us to be healthy and well, our bodies need good fluid circulation all the time.

In offices, an easy-to-adjust table is required to allow for variating between sitting and standing during the workday. If the work involves a lot of reading, you can sit in a sack chair, otherwise the best seat is a two-part swinging saddle chair. The screen should be at the right height, the upper edge at eye level. The centered mouse that is used with both hands is an ergonomic option. It is also important that the office has the appropriate temperature and lighting, and that there are air-purifying plants.

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You can use the new Salli Base for an energizing reflexological foot massage that increases blood circulation.

No more suffering!

Salli and the world's best colleagues bring me joy and health, but the surrounding nature is also important. I appreciate the fact that I can walk around in nature and enjoy the sun and have conference calls on my mobile at the same time. We get to go swimming every day and eat healthy lunch together. We get inspired and share information about sitting and wellness with our cooperation partners and customers. The best thing in my work is that I can help others to find the optimal sitting environment so that they will never have to suffer any more!