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The company has revealed the findings of its market research, prior to announcing that it will be placing greater emphasis on ergonomic hardware. The research polled 1,000 office workers and found that 68 per cent of them suffered from aches and pains - including back ache, shoulder pain and wrist or hand pain - as a result of working whilst in transit in cramped or awkward positions.

On the back of the research, Microsoft suggests that not enough businesses are replacing their existing office equipment with ergonomic hardware. The company claims

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that there are a number of ergonomic solutions on the market for workers which will dramatically reduce the number of injuries quickly and cost effectively. These include an ergonomic articulating keyboard, monitor arms, footrests, copy holders, ergonomic mice, laptop holders and ergonomic chairs.

Less than half of UK workplaces have an ergonomic hardware programme in place and, according to Microsoft, nearly a quarter of workers are not aware if their company even has one.

"Microsoft has recognised that companies and employees can benefit enormously by implementing a few simple and cost effective measures. This is why we are putting such a focus on ergonomic hardware, in particular mice and keyboards, to reduce the number of work related injuries," said Sophie Barnave-Gaffney from Microsoft.

Technological advances and stressful workloads have incited a growing demand for staff to operate even when out of the office. Microsoft blames a lack of knowledge about the risks of using mobile PCs for millions of working hours being lost to injury, estimating the cost to UK businesses to be around the £300 million mark.