Can my NHS secondment require photos of my home working setup?

[StolenPineappleCup]

Currently on a secondment within the NHS. I don't have a concrete base - it can be any premises within the Trust - but like the rest of my team work remotely at least 2 of my 4 days a week (usually 3 even). The days I would go into a base would be to specifically meet in person rather than just to work from a hot desk. My team has no permanent set up anywhere, just hot desking rooms we can book.

Since Covid when we all moved to WFH we've had to complete an annual DSE assessment for health and safety - a quick, online form - done. This year however they want photographs of our set up at home! Apparently we have to have at least a mouse, keyboard, and a monitor. My work setup is that I sit on the sofa with a laptop table and use the laptop only - it works absolutely fine for me, and I have no MSK issues, etc.

Apparently if we can't have this setup at home we will need to be in a base permanently - even though I don't have one. I feel this would massively impact my work/life balance due to commuting and also the fact I was allowed to WFH before Covid due to ASD.

I don't see how it's fair that they want to police how people work in their own homes? Aren't we all grown adults? Yes they have a HSE/duty of care role etc. but surely if you can sign and agree you're happy with your way of working they surely can't force you to change?!

(I do have a desk and chair upstairs by the way but the desk is one of those stupid angled ones that doesn't adjust for me, and the room where it is is getting renovated - I will have a new one but not until the end of the year)

Reasonable adjustments are not binding. They can force you into an office if you workplace is not legally safe.

You need to sort yourself out with a sensible homeworking set up and stop making excuses

Why are they not supplying you with everything? Surely they need to do that! Mine gave me everything…desk and chair included!

They are box ticking.

So tick the box with a staged desk photo and then carry on as you are.

I would have thought that these conditions still apply even with your reasonable adjustment and if you push this they might find that it's a reasonable adjustment which cannot be made and you either go back into the office or look for another role. It's hard, but legally you are responsible for your own H&S in the workplace, it's not just your employer's responsibility.

no I don't have a monitor, mouse or keyboard, or laptop riser at present. There wouldn't be enough room for all of that on the existing desk as it's not much bigger than the laptop itself

That sounds like a shelf not a desk!

So they can actually force me to have to use a monitor, keyboard, mouse and riser and not just my laptop? I mean they won't actually know if I'm using it or not anyway but I DO fully intend to use the home office once renovations are complete and new furniture purchased etc but it's not something I can do right now

@Automagical it's like this Toyen Leaning Desk

Obviously they can't force you. But if they think your home setup isn't safe or adheres to their policy then they can require you to attend an office until you can show it is safe.

I used to have that exact desk and I managed to set it up with monitor, keyboard, mouse and proper office chair etc.

Why is using laptop at a desk or on a table worse than using a separate keyboard and monitor. And why is a mouse essential? Surely it's about having an adjustable chair that's suitable, that's the most important thing?

I get them not wanting to see people working lying on couches or in bed. But I don't get the need for monitor/keyboard.

And if they are suddenly now claiming you must have this equipment then I believe it's their duty to supply it. Legally though I obviously have no clue.

But if they're saying you must permanently base yourself from an office then that's a cost to them.

Surely cheaper in the long run if they just give you the kit and then obviously you send it back when you leave.

I just googled ladder desk to give an example - it's not this exact one and definitely doesn't have room for all of that - it has maybe 3 inches gap either side of a standard laptop. I know exactly what I am going to get next which will be big enough - but there are other things that need to happen before I can use it!

That doesn't look very practical to work at.

How big is your desk? Mine is only 50cm x 80cm and I can still fit a monitor, keyboard and mouse on it (admittedly not much else). In theory you shouldn't need the monitor if you use a laptop riser (i do use both as they just fit and a second screen is useful) and a keyboard and mouse don't take up much room.

Their responsibility is to ensure that you have the correct, safe tools and set up to work safely. If you then chose not to use them, that's up to you. But, from their perspective, they are covered in the event you sue them because working from home has left you immobile and unable to work ;)

If they let you work from home when they know you don't have a safe workstation then they open the door to claims in the future. In a more physical work environment, where compliance is more rigorously monitored, persistent refusal to, for example, wear a high-viz and a hard hat would almost certainly lead to dismissal!

You can get a decent sized desk from Ikea for £30 and laptop stand for £3. Keyboard and mouse for £17 from Argos. Your back and neck will thank you in the long run!

@OneGreenSheep they don't allow you to use your own computer equipment - tried that previously with a head set. There won't be a 'long run' as I will literally be set up in a proper home office within a few months, it's just not possible right now!

Just take a pic of a friend's setup instead 🤷‍♀️.

You don’t need a riser if you have a monitor. It’s either/or unless you need 2 screens (like I do).

They can’t force you to use them, but they can force you to prove that you have them if you want to continue wfh to prevent you from bringing a claim against them in the future.

I think you need to make this a priority seen as this is your job @StolenPineappleCup

When you read of some NHS employees and what seem like exaggerated or almost fake sickness claims (and rarely frontline ones), I don't blame the NHS for making you detail your home working set up.

Using a laptop without an external keyboard and monitor means you can’t sit at a suitable distance from the screen, or look at the screen at the right height. It’s just not possible to have the keyboard on the correct reach and still look at the monitor from the right distance and height. Using a laptop ‘as is’ is only suitable for agile or occasional home working. I’ve added a graphic to show you how you need to be set up. I work in the public sector; I’ve been full time home based for 20 years and have had to have training on this and demonstrate compliance every year. You need to find a cheap short term solution which won’t damage your body - you can do it from IKEA for well under £100 for the furniture, including a really decent chair (DH’s desk was £30 and can fit dual monitors, laptop, keyboard and mouse with ease). If you’re doing a house refurb you can afford this really important investment in your health.

I don't know the legislation governing this . Howver. I'd say that your employer has the right to insist you work safely. They don't want folk suing them in years to come because they were forced to sit on a sofa and not an office chair.

You have a desk, so take a photo of it setup according to their requirements, no one is forcing you to sit there or work permanently in an office, gosh just tick the box, job done.

OP there's no point arguing about how your current desk can't hold the equipment they want. People are pointing out that - Yes, your work can insist you send them a photo showing you have what they consider to be necessary for safe home working.

So you need to be able to send them a photo showing that. Start thinking about how you can do that instead of focusing on the suggestions that don't work. Push a dining table up against a wall? Borrow a folding table? Take a photo of a friends office set up?

What can you do right now so that you don't have your ability to WFH withdrawn?