The Business of Ergonomics Podcast

Most healthcare professionals who dream of building an ergonomics practice don't fail because they lack skill. They fail because they never had a plan broken down into pieces small enough to actually act on. In this episode, Darcie shares the single tool that has kept her on track more consistently than anything else in building her own business: the 90-Day Goal and Action Plan. It's not...

Ergonomics is not a regulated health profession. You do not need a license to do office ergonomics assessments. And yet there are healthcare professionals all over the world sitting on the sidelines, waiting for a certification that, in most jurisdictions, the law doesn't actually require. That waiting is costing them time, clients, and income they could already be generating. In this episode...

Most companies that need an ergonomic assessment don't know they need one. They've bought new chairs. They've done the wellness training. They've put up the stretch posters. And people are still hurting. So they conclude that ergonomics doesn't work, when the real problem is that they've been buying solutions without ever diagnosing the actual problem. In this episode...

Sit up straight. Chin in. Ears over shoulders. Fix your forward head posture and your neck pain will improve. Sound familiar? If you've been in ergonomics for any amount of time, you've probably said some version of this — and so has almost everyone else in our field. But two studies published in April 2026 are pushing back on that framework in ways that every ergonomics professional nee...

Exoskeletons are showing up in warehouses, distribution centres, construction sites, and surgical suites and the marketing behind them is compelling. But before your clients start outfitting their workforce in wearable tech, there's a question that isn't being asked loudly enough: are we solving the ergonomic problem, or just covering it up? We dive into a direct parallel between the exo...

In a galaxy not so far away....actually, probably your office, your warehouse, or your clinic, workers are getting injured by the same conditions, year after year, because nobody asked them what was wrong. This May the 4th, we're celebrating the most powerful force in workplace safety: your workforce. In this special episode, discover what separates a reactive ergonomics program from one that...

Every ergonomics consultant has them, moments where you walk out of an assessment and think, that actually made a real difference. The worker who came in defeated. The setup that needed one adjustment. The Amazon cart full of products that never needed to be purchased. But most of us let those moments evaporate. We don't write them up, don't post them, don't share them, and in doing...

Most ergonomics practitioners are brilliant clinicians, but when it comes to getting clients, they're working with only half an engine. In this episode, discover the two types of outreach every ergonomics consultant needs: active outreach (the gas engine that drives immediate results) and passive outreach (the electric motor that compounds over time and eventually carries most of the load). G...

Kneeling chairs. Saddle seats. Active chairs. Exercise balls. You've probably been asked about all of them, and maybe you've given answers based on incomplete information. In this episode, we dig into what the research actually shows and more importantly, what it doesn't. We examine a critical flaw in one of the most-cited studies on alternative seating that changes how you should i...

Most office ergonomics problems aren't posture problems. They're furniture design problems wearing a musculoskeletal symptom costume.  In this episode, you'll discover two real office assessments completed by Ergonomics Blueprint student Georgina as part of her OEA certification review. The two clients have different setups, different complaints, and different body types. But once D...

Most healthcare professionals who move into ergonomics consulting don't struggle with the science — they struggle with the business. In this episode, Darcie Jaremey draws on insights from a conversation with Erin, a Canadian ergonomist who left clinical rehab to build her own consulting practice, to explore the gap between clinical competence and commercial sustainability. Darcie unpacks the...

Erin went from clinical rehab to running his own ergonomics consulting practice, and it didn't happen overnight. In this episode, he shares the real story: starting with just a handful of assessments a year, underpricing his services, relocating to a new city, and rebuilding his network from zero by choosing collaboration over competition. We talk pricing mistakes, imposter syndrome, the cycl...

In Part 2, Darcie goes deeper into the business and clinical side of office ergonomics with 15 more facts most practitioners have never heard.  Learn why most ergonomists undercharge by 40–60%, how a simple line-item change can boost your assessment revenue by 30%, and why companies will pay 2–3x more for a practitioner who can show them a systematic framework.  On the clinical side, discover why...

Did you know there are only 1,200 Board Certified Professional Ergonomists in the entire United States, and that pointing device (aka mice) recommendations are the #1 source of failed ergonomic interventions?  In this two-part series, discover 30 facts about office ergonomics assessments that most healthcare professionals have never heard: ...from the wide-open market most practitioners are walkin...

Adam Jennings, PT and founder of Wildemont Ergonomics, gets real about the challenge every aspiring entrepreneur faces: When do you let go of the steady paycheck and grab onto your business full-time? In this candid conversation, Adam shares his consultative approach to sales, why he serves both office and industrial clients, and his strategy for scaling with limited time. We also discuss how Func...

The 90-degree sitting posture has been the default recommendation in ergonomics for decades. But does the science actually support it? In this evidence-packed episode, we examine over 50 years of peer-reviewed research—including intradiscal pressure studies, EMG analysis, and MRI imaging—to answer a question that affects every office assessment you conduct. You’ll discover why reclined sitting (95...

Stuck in the ergonomics consulting Catch-22? You need clients to build experience, but companies won't hire you without a portfolio. In this episode, we're breaking down the complete roadmap to building a thriving ergonomics business—starting with the ONE decision most consultants skip that determines everything else. You'll discover why choosing between B2B and B2C before you do an...

Discover why positive keyboard tilt is sometimes the right ergonomic choice. Learn the biomechanical principle that determines keyboard angle and when to break the standard rules. Research-backed guidance for ergonomics professionals. Click here to read the blog and download the freebies: https://www.ergonomicshelp.com/blog/when-positive-keyboard-tilt-makes-sense  If you're a healthcare profe...

Discover the complex world of ergonomic keyboard selection. This episode wraps up a three-part series on office ergonomic equipment selection, focusing on the challenges of recommending the best ergonomic keyboard. Learn about the historical development of keyboards and the inherent biomechanical issues with standard designs.  The episode details the most common mistakes consultants make, introduc...

Recommending a mouse isn’t as simple as matching a product to a symptom. In this episode of the Business of Ergonomics Podcast , Darcie breaks down how to choose the right mouse based on root cause analysis, biomechanics, and task demands — not trends or quick fixes. You’ll learn how different mouse designs affect wrist posture, forearm loading, shoulder strain, and motor control, and how to make...

In this episode, Darcie breaks down the foundation of every effective office ergonomics assessment: root cause analysis. She shares why jumping straight to solutions leads to costly mistakes, how the “Five Whys” technique uncovers what’s really driving discomfort, and why engineering controls beat posture reminders every time. You’ll hear real examples from 20 years of assessments, the common trap...

Find out one of the most important yet overlooked steps in growing an ergonomics consulting business: identifying your ideal client avatar. Spoiler alert—it’s not the worker in pain. It’s the HR decision-maker who signs the contract and opens the door to dozens of assessments. Learn why focusing on B2B instead of B2C creates leverage, how to uncover your client’s true needs and objections, and why...

Ergonomics for Dentists & Hygienists | My Conversation with Stephanie Botts Dentistry is one of the most high-risk professions for musculoskeletal pain—and that means a huge opportunity for ergonomists . In this full interview, I sit down with Stephanie Botts, RDH, BSDH, CEAS , a practicing dental hygienist and certified ergonomics specialist, to explore how ergonomists can better understand a...

Whether you're an OT, PT, RN, Kin, or another type of healthcare provider, you'll hear how Jess went from burnout and overwork to confidence, income, and flexibility. We break down her first paid assessment, how she landed referrals, and why you don’t need fancy equipment or another degree to get started. You'll learn: The mindset shift that helped Jess take the leap What she charge...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by David Brodie, a seasoned ergonomist with decades of experience in the public sector and private consulting. We dive into how the ergonomics field has evolved over the years—and what consultants can do to stay relevant and in demand. David shares practical strategies for adapting your services, building long-term relationships with clients, and navigating the chang...