Workers in New York who have to stand for hours may soon be entitled to take a seat

• The New York State Senate introduced a bill to protect staff who are forced to stand while working.
• The bill could require employers provide workers with seats to increase workplace safety.

Workers in New York state who have to unnecessarily stand for long periods on the job might soon be entitled to take a seat if a new bill becomes law.

The bill, introduced by the state's senate, will make employers give seats to their workers to boost workplace safety.

The Standing Is Tiring Act (SIT) bill, if passed, will protect employees who have to stand for prolonged periods at work with minimal or no breaks, which it argues is unnecessary.

It suggests that employers can bring in measures like letting workers sit if they can still perform their jobs to protect them from having to stand for hours on end.

"Employees in many settings, especially retail and food service, are required to stand for their entire shift," the bill says. "Employers often assert that this is necessary for reasons associated with professionalism, efficiency, and business needs."

It says that prolonged standing can have negative consequences on workers' health as part of the justification for the bill.

The bill points to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which says standing for long periods can lead to lower back pain, fatigue, muscle pain, tiredness, and body soreness.

Prolonged standing can also pose risks to cardiovascular health as well as other serious issues, it says, adding that the proposed change to New York's labor laws can "provide relief" and "increase productivity" for its "hardest-working neighbors."