Static discharge
Along with the grounding strap and the grounding mat, there are also grounding shoes.
I work with electronics, and we have grounded workbenches and we all have grounding straps. The carpet is grounded and conductive. I’ve gone so far as to modify my watch band with a connector for the grounding strap. I wear (for the most part) cotton clothing.
I still had trouble with getting zapped when I touch something. I find that I have to wear either a pair of shoes with conducting soles, or else my good Nocona boots with the leather soles. The leather conducts well enough to drain off the static charge (at least after my feet have sweated in the mfor a while.)
Try a static guard spray. I have found that the synthetic fabric of chairs will give me a static charge. This can be eliminated by periodically spraying the chair with static guard. You can also reduce the static generated by your own clothes by using lotion on your legs etc to reduce the static generating potential.
I’m surprised that no one mentioned the humidity level as a contributing factor for static shocks. For example, I used to get shocked all the time in winter until this year, when I bought a whole house humidifier. Following that, not a one shock. Not that the person who asked this could remedy this situation in their office, but it’s worth asking about.
Where I used to work, they also grounded the chairs. This was done by attaching a short length of chain to the bottom of the chair, such that it dragged about 4 inches on the ground. If placed at the center of the wheeled chair, it was short enough not to interfere with the wheels, but long enough to ground it.
Try introducing a bunch of plants into your office environment. The constant source of humidity could lower your electrical potential.
A co-worker confirmed my suggestion to use a metal hanger instead of static guard. Hold the hanger by the hook end, and run the loop along your clothes. The static from your clothes transfers through the hanger. Then touch the hanger to a ground source. (not into the socket obviously! ; ) )
2 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener into a spray bottle, fill the rest with water, spray over carpets, furniture, etcetera. Works like a charm, last and lasts.
(Learned that one while working in an electronics store about 10 years ago)
For decades, I’ve worn a wristwatch with a metal band. When I’m where I’m likely to get a shock, I try to remember to touch the band to a ground first. Light switch mounting screws work well. Of course, you don’t want to do this around sensitive equipment – better to use the grounding strap recommended by Mort Furd.
I wondre what putting one of those air ionizers into the room would do - I mean, one of thsoe with fans so that the objects in the room are constantly getting charges transferred at the surface. First, it’ll muck up biological surfaces; don’t matter much to us, our outer skin is dead, but bacteria get phwammied because they have so little insides comaped to theuir4 outsides and phwammy.
I also work with electronics and wear ESD shoes while I work. But if I am not on the ESD carpeted area, for instance if I am in the warehouse which has a cement floor, I have to wear my wriststrap. Likewise, I cannot wear my street shoes on the ESD carpet and still be grounded. The carpet and shoes work together.
You can actually get some very nice ESD shoes these days. Loafers, running shoes, dress shoes. I’ve even seen hiking boot styles. Those made me say, Hmmm??
I must try that homemade static spray. Thanks for the tip! In the wintertime my cats sometimes ‘crackle’ after rolling and stretching on the carpet.
Here’s an anti-static ionizer fan (the kind used at electronics workbenches.) About $50 from mail order surplus catalog. Usually they’re more like $300