To ask FT home workers what their workplace provides

[TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

Starting a new WFH FT job next week. I’m being sent a laptop. But should they also be providing a desk and chair as well? I’m having to buy one myself. I’m pretty sure I’ll also be expected to use my personal phone rather than be given a work phone.

Given laptop, work mobile and screens.

Own desk and chair. Highly recommend a standing desk to give you more options.

laptop, screen, keyboard and mouse.
Dobt get another line put in - people can call via teams. If they want you to have a phone - they provide it!

I work for a local government. Everyone, even new starters now got / gets £250 for a desk and chair. We had to buy and then provide receipts for a refund.

Public or private sector?

I have been a homeworker in the public sector for 20 years. When I first started I got an allowance to be able to buy a desk, chair, lamp and pedestal/storage (in the days before everything was paperless). This was available again after ten years if anything had broken. Work provides laptop, dual monitors, keyboard, mouse, port replicator, footrest, printer and a mobile phone. Line managers make sure you do a health and safety workstation assessment, and anything needed to improve your workstation is then provided. Exactly the same as if you were working in the office. I’ve never had any issues with a bad back or neck or anything - it helps keep workers working.

This should be the standard, but sadly, clearly, isn’t. There’s no reason why you should be less well equipped just because your office is also your home.

Desk, chair, laptop, laptop bag, 2 screens, mouse, keyboard, shredder, printer, dictaphone, mobile phone, headset, lockable drawers, lockable file all stationary. Anything I need I can order or buy and expense it. My job was home based pre covid though.

By default, laptop and computer accessories. People can request a monitor, desk, chair, footstool, laptop stand - I don't know what else. Some people need it, others don't.

Laptop, additional monitor, headset and all peripherals provided. I've got a work mobile too. They offered me a chair from the office as they have nice ergonomic ones but I already have an office and chair so I declined - I don't think a desk and chair are provided as standard by many places though. All of the home workers I know have set up their own offices/office spaces.

My last employer provided a very decent laptop, iPhone, excellent headphones, and encrypted memory stick. They would have provided a desk and other equipment if I'd needed it.

My current employer doesn't provide anything - in fact the kit at work is so bad lots of people just use their own laptop, phone etc, and dial in via VPN. (Though you have to get special dispensation to use that.)

I work for a very big company and during lockdown I got a laptop, screen (as looking at a laptop all day isn't healthy), mouse and chair. I also have a work provided phone and iPad.

The company I'm doing work for can provide things like office chair, mouse and external keyboard however everyone I work with sorts out their own equipment as the stuff they are given is usually crap. (No one has said they have asked for a desk.) Plus we work on projects for different clients who like us to use their own laptops.

One of my brothers' company provided them with a desk, chair and desktop PC when they moved to WFH a decade ago. They have since upgraded them to laptops which they can plug into a monitor.

The downside of my brother's employer is they made everyone redundant who couldn't fit the desk into their home in a separate space - it could be a nook in a hallway - to work. There as the people I work with often are seen moving locations e.g. bed, sofa, armchair, desk in meetings.

I just buy whatever i need and expense it basically

Employers have health and safety obligations to ensure their workers have a safe working environment. This extends beyond a basic laptop, monitor etc and should include a desk, chair, headset etc. They should also carry out desk assessments.

Work has approved -

Laptop
Monitor screen
Keyboard
Mouse
Headset

I provided desk and chair, which I purchased for my previous job.

Everything if I want it.

I said no to desk and chair as prefer my own furniture.

Laptop and phone. I don't need anything else really.
DH expensed an expensive chair and it got signed off without issue.

i have a laptop, riser, mouse, monitor, keyboard and headset provided by work. I also brought my chair and footrest home back in 2020 and they are still here. I bought a screen riser and desk myself and my home set up is ideal. I have a work mobile but hate it and prefer to have my work emails and teams messages coming up on my own phone. We have a work phone number anyway and so all phone calls come through on teams on the laptop if someone rings it while I am working.

Phone, headset, Laptop, screens x 2 and screen holder thing , docking station, keyboard, mouse and keyboard rest, printer. I can order paper/ink/stationery as needed. Have WFH prior to COVID.

They provide all the tech and would provide a desk and adjustable chair if needed, but I already had those.

I have a laptop and a headset but I already had my own desktop PC with two screens so never used them. Everything else, desk, chair, printer etc I have to provide

They provide laptop, screen, keyboard and a laptop bag.
During covid they allowed you to buy an office chair and send them the invoice (after running your proposed chair by your manager), but I already had one. They only offered this when wfh was mandatory though - now they expect us in at least twice a week.

My company provided, laptop, headset, monitors, desk and chair. My partners company provided laptop, monitor and chair.

I would assume they are only obliged to provide laptop especially if there is the option for going in the office. If there isn't, not quite sure what the legalities would be.

My son got £500 towards a desk and chair from his company (Deloitte).

DH and I both work from home, phones if needed are provided. Laptops and any screens/cables/mouse/keyboard is provided by work. Following a DSE assessment DHs work sent him a fancy chair for his bad back.

Curious re need for second phone line/works phone - will calls not come through to you on laptop via Skype/Teams?

£250 starting budget - i bought a chair out of the money, and then they supplied keyboard, headphones etc. then £150 annually to replace items, this includes keyboards, headphones etc.

didnt have a phone inititally, so Teams was the default option for calls. Only my manager had my number that was for emergencies or calling in sick etc, not anything else. Now we have work phones.