Requiring staff to have equipment to WFH

[EmotionalSupportPotato]

My work place offers hybrid working. 3 days in the office 2 days at home. Can they require us to have a second monitor at home? I have a proper set up, monitor, laptop, keyboard, mouse and a desk but I know lots of the more junior staff are just using their laptops at their kitchen table or sofas even. What are the rules around this sort of thing- would work have to buy them the equipment? Can they just say "fine come in 5 days a week then" if they can't prove they have the equipment.

What are you actually asking OP? You say “Can they require us to have a second monitor at home?”

Do you mean that you think these junior staff have refused a proper home set up and are unproductive because of it? Are you asking if your employer can insist on them being in the office if they won’t/can’t have a full screen at home?

I believe that companies do not have to provide equipment to work from home (including a laptop - its not unheard of to have to provide your own although these days cybersecurity would probably stop that. It does have to be clear who is responsible for what. This may be helpful https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-staff-who-work-from-home/expenses-and-equipment

My organisation, a charity, provides a laptop and either a mobile phone or softphone, and you are obliged to buy your own peripherals. We give you £200 towards that. We do make exceptions for disability, but AccesstoWork should cover that.

Both really. Can they force people in 5 days a week if they won't pay for their own monitor

The key factor is Health & Safety and the DSE regulations. https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/

Homeworking https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm
DSE checklist https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm

If someone is routinely working from home for full days then a DSE assessment must be completed and that may require equipment to be supplied e.g. chair, mouse etc.

I would say if you can’t work safely from home and have an office based contract then they could mandate that you are unable to be a hybrid worker if it’s not written in your contract.

I have worked for three different offices of a national charity with a federal structure. Office based until Covid the various permutations of WFH, hybrid and occasional off site 'outreach' sessions.

During Covid I was allowed to use my own PC but with any identifiable data on a secured cloud server. I have a proper desk and chair and a large screen.

Subsequently I've been allocated laptops which I use lid down connected to my own screen/keyboard/mouse via a KVM switch.

Both previous and current outfits have offered second screens if I need them. In practice one large screen is enough. Current outfit were insistent on me doing a full DSE assessment.

AIUI using a laptop with its own keyboard day in/day out is a no no for DSE - massive RSI and posture risk. OK with a riser and keyboard/mouse. Same with seating, proper office chair with adjustments for height, rake and with arms. Domestic stools or dining chairs, never mind sitting on a bed set you up for posture issues.

@EmotionalSupportPotato is the employer actually insisting on a second screen? We used 2 each in the office but they were 13-14 inch jobbies; first gen successor to CRT displays. 26 inch is big enough for most uses even if you have to split the screen.

Previous employer did remote workplace assessments to ensure we were safe to work. It was quite easy to fudge things you knew probably wouldn't pass, though. They also provided funds and/or some equipment.

I did have a proper keyboard and mouse, but didn't have a separate screen - laptop was up on a stand, though, so I didn't have to look down at it.

A DSE assessment is required for hybrid working, but with an office based contract they are under no obligation to provide DSE equipment. They simply say you have to work from the office full time as hybrid working is not suitable for you. Like I said before most businesses have not updated staff contracts so hybrid working can be withdrawn at any time and staff will go back full time in the office.

Why is accuracy and productivity down? If you mean you prefer to work at the office computer rather than use the laptop then it's up to you to provide your preference.

If it is a case of not having the correct software at home then work should provide that for you

By second screen it's just a monitor and your laptop needed at home reallt I'd say in the office we have two big screens and plug our laptops in so you can have 3 if you want

We don't know. My job is the productivity stats and my bosses job is managing the team.

There is a noticeable increase in error rate and decrease productivity when they wfh. The newer members of the team insist they can do it all on a laptop screen. I think it will reduce errors if they look at the work one bigger screen - they can have more documents open at once etc. I'm trying to push for looking at their home set ups rather than a blanket right..in the office.

If productivity and accuracy are affected then they should be made to go into the office ft .

We are allowed to WFH providing our set up meets the DSE assessment - my work will also provide everything your heart could desire to allow you to do so even though we all have base offices.

Team members without a second monitor can pick one up fairly cheaply or just use their TV plugged in with a HDMI. I have two monitors but if working on a big spreadsheet will often plug into the TV instead.

My work provided me with screen, docking station etc but I just use my laptop even when in the office. Much prefer it that way.

Im working from home for a year as I need orthopaedic surgery and cant get out of the house into my clinic. Im doing triage, online consultations that kind of thing.
I have a work laptop and I work from my second bedroom with a very neutral background because Im video calling people and my students.
Im not allowed to use my own equipment because I have secure medical records. I also have to padlock that room when Im not working in it in case visiting friends wander up there. I live on my own though.
Its all very secure. No working from the sofa.

Also hybrid working here and asked this very same question. I have a legacy monitor at home from during lockdown but have been told when it breaks they won't replace it as there is desk space at work with all the equipment I need to do the job I am paid to do and it is a perk of the job to hybrid work now lockdowns are over - they won't duplicate equipment.

Rather than pick a fight I might lose (and be, ultimately, forced to go back in the office 5 days a week), I'll just buy my own cheap monitor from a charity shop when the time comes rather than endure a 2 hour daily commute again.

Learn how to play the system to your advantage OP.

@EmotionalSupportPotato the way you phrased your op didn’t really set out the full issue.

The fact is you are responsible for productivity stats and it is clear some people on their WFH days are less productive and less accurate than on their work from the office days. Having a full WFH set up with a monitor may resolve the accuracy and productivity issues but it may not.

I am not clear what authority you have, but my advice is follow good practice and have a 1:2:1 conversation with each employee. Set out evidence and ask them why there is a difference then listen to their responses. If it is IT kit then make a business case for IT kit at home - if they won’t provide it then tough it’s back to the office.

I know you want to be kind and not do a blanket everyone in the office but the bottom line is they are not performing on WFH days.

Does everyone have space for a second monitor? I find it frustrating when people assume that everyone has a spare room to set up as an office with a proper desk, chair, second monitor etc. On my WFH days, I’m at the dining room table with my laptop because I live in a small house with no space anywhere for a desk (and I can’t afford to move to a bigger house!). I know some other colleagues are in the same situation. You mention some staff working from the sofa - is this actually because they don’t have anywhere else to work?

Yes, I have space for a second monitor. We are not allowed to work from laptops.

The thing is I think the arguement will be if they don't they should come in.

But at my workplace, there are no offices any more. Everyone has to work from home.

Jesus, as some one who has been in an office twice now each way, there is nothing worse then sat in a disgusting call centre environment listening to colleagues who aren’t fed calls back to back, laughing hysterically for the most part of the day to the point it gives a headache. And heck knows what it sounds like to callers of serious lines. These ‘office days’ are fast becoming real eye openers.

Public sector - of course never any leader boards or stats over who is doing what.

Sorry op as someone expected to provide own equipment during the covid 19 vaccine call campaign 2023 where to have a job wfh it was provide your own equipment and later having the option of providing own screen v dealing with the aftermath when you want to leave, I want as minimal fuss as possible. A complete blessing not to have to return the chair, second, third screen etc because it isn’t the employers to begin with.

Sadly when commuting to the misery work place, it costs £21 in a day’s return train fare and the time that is lost getting up at 6 for a job that doesn’t start at 9 and then getting in at 8pm when the day is over at 5 - even if it went to a one week in four, I’d be saying here is my notice.

You should be asked to complete a risk assessment your workspace and your employer provide anything it throws up as required, like a supportive chair. Not necessarily a full monitor, printer etc though.

If your contract is office based they do not have to provide any equipment for working from home. The company can turn around and say you have a dse compliant chair/desk/monitor etc..... in the office come and use it.

If your contract says home working permanently then yes they should provide dse equipment.

Then that's not hybrid working is it.