Replacement of Office Chairs with Stools

The act of a company simply replacing office chairs with round stools is not directly illegal in itself, but it needs to be evaluated in conjunction with specific circumstances to determine whether it violates relevant labor laws, especially regarding its impact on employees' physical health or working conditions. The following is a detailed analysis:

If the round stool design does not conform to ergonomics, it may indirectly violate labor laws
According to the principles of labor law, employers have an obligation to protect the physical health of workers. If the height, stability, or design of the round stool does not conform to ergonomics (such as lacking lumbar support, armrests, or causing an unnatural sitting posture), employees may experience health risks such as back pain and cervical spine issues after prolonged use. In this case, the replacement act may indirectly violate the provision in labor law regarding the "protection of workers' physical health" by failing to provide safe and healthy working conditions.

Replacement must comply with labor contracts or company regulations
If the labor contract signed between the company and employees explicitly stipulates standards for office furniture (such as "providing ergonomic office chairs") or if the company's internal regulations (formulated through democratic procedures and legally reasonable) have specific requirements for office equipment, and replacing round stools violates these clauses, it may constitute a breach of contract or violation of regulations. For example, if the regulations state that "office chairs must have adjustable functions" and the round stools cannot meet this requirement, the replacement act may be deemed a violation.

Employees have the right to raise objections and negotiate for a solution
Employees have the right to raise objections to environmental changes that affect their working conditions or health. If they believe that the round stools cause physical discomfort or a decline in work efficiency, they can negotiate with the company to request more suitable office furniture (such as ergonomic chairs). During negotiations, employees can refer to ergonomic standards (such as having both feet flat on the ground, knees bent at 90 degrees, and lumbar support when sitting) to make specific requests and ask the company to provide explanations regarding the safety of the round stools (such as certification of the gas lift and tightening of all connecting screws).

Replacement must consider usage scenarios and safety requirements
Even if replacing with round stools, basic usage conditions should be met:

• Scenario adaptation: If employees need to sit for long periods while working, the round stools should have adjustable functions (such as height and tilt). For short-term usage scenarios (such as conference rooms), requirements can be appropriately relaxed.
• Safety certification: If the round stools need to be assembled by employees themselves, it should be confirmed that the gas lift has safety certifications such as SGS or BIFMA, and all connecting screws should be tightened to avoid the risk of tipping over.