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)

This

It's to ensure your safety. That said, it's a PITA when you don't have the setup. We don't have space for that at home but my employer doesn't ask too many questions, just makes us watch a patronising video once a year about not tripping over cables or clothes horses. 🙄

You sound like a stroppy brat going on your responses. They’re not asking anything unreasonable.

@StolenPineappleCup is there a reason you can’t snap a photo at a friend or family members house? If not that’s your best solution

My sister works for the NHS and work provides everyone with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and headset, you can request other bits too, she has an office base she works at 1 day a week, so is technically office based. Why aren't work providing basic equipment so that you can do your job?

This is a box-ticking exercise. You show them a pic of a proper office then you can't sue them down the road when your back or neck goes due to working on the couch. They're happy for you to lie if it leaves them unaccountable. Take a pic of someone else's home office and be done with it.

No, of course they can't demand you take photos inside your home however, they can insist you work in an office.

It's up to you 😉

Exactly this & similar posts. It's easier to just play their stupid bloody game. Nick the set up they need, then carry on as normal.

Permanently looking down at a laptop will likely give you neck problems. Not for a few years maybe but it will come. A small laptop riser and wireless compact keyboard and mouse will make a big difference. You don't need a big monitor. Have you really no table at all in your home? As others have said, if you're determined to risk your health you can do a temporary set up for a photo and go back to the sofa afterwards.

Are you a teacher?

You’re just being awkward OP. You can get a monitor and stuff on Facebook marketplace for pennies and play the game and get to keep WFH or you can refuse and be sent to the office. Reasonable adjustments won’t stop you being sent back they can’t let you work from a laptop on the sofa.

OP, a proper home set up has been a thing since forever in every organisation I've worked in where ive worked from home. Its not new. 20 years ago, my boss visited my home to do a full risk assessment, let alone have me just bang some pics over of my desk.

Am I the only one thinking “just go to a neighbours and take a photo of their setup”?

like what everyone says is true- get a proper setup. But if you don’t give a crap and are prepared to fuck your back, neck, wrists and elbows, then just go and get a fake photo of “your” setup.

The other thing is, you say you've been doing a DSE questionnaire every year, you wouldn't get away with laptop and sofa if answering that correctly, so either you haven't been truthful on it or they have not been checking them and are now tightening up (perhaps they've had long term sickness for MSK disorders starting to happen). Either way you need to go along with this if you want to keep WFH.

I would ask a friend to take a photo of their wfh set up and just leave it there
it doesn’t need to be a big deal.
youre going to move to a desk in a few months, you have the option of going into the office if you want to. If you decide to move to your sofa that’s up to you.
you’ve said you have adjustments anyway so they can’t make you go into every day anyway so it feels like this doesn’t need to be a big worry.

I WFH 200 miles from our national HQ. The H&S manager does a home visit when you start to check your set up!

Fake it. For five years I sat on my bed at my desk that over lapped the edge, no chair and no issues.

I have a strong core and it meant I could wriggle and sit crossed legged if I wanted to.

For everyone suggesting I just take a picture at a friend's or family home - they would know immediately that it wasn't equipment they had supplied. Same reason I can't just go out and buy the stuff I need because it has to be their approved models and supplier - believe me I tried to do it with a headset of all things.

My point is also that I cannot show them what they want right now because a) I don't physically have the equipment and b) I don't physically have anywhere that I can show I work from - the kitchen table is too high and my actual desk isn't big enough. I'm fully intending on having the whole shebang set up in a home office in the next couple of months but until other rooms are completed and some cash flow is eased it's just not a possibility

That's exactly what I'm trying to do! But if you read my latest post I've outlined why I can't do what they're asking

Use AI to create a picture of your room using photographs of the equipment they provide!

What have they supplied and what do you have to purchase?

I'm an electrician, I detest hi viz jackets and hard hats and will, and do take them off at every opportunity, even when I'm not supposed to - my clients of course have the right to tell me to put them back on again (which I duly do until they are not looking!) as they have a duty of care.

Same applies here, OP will probably find she gets supplied a desk and chair, but she can migrate back to the sofa in due course.

You have to HAVE a desk. Not use a desk. They are obliged to make sure you have the right equipment to work safely from home. If you choose to opt out of it, that's your prerogative. Pick your battles, send the picture and do what you like.

What equipment have they supplied a d why aren't you using it?

DSE assessments are there to protect your health - they trust you to work at home safely.

I have a laptop - that's it. Literally it. I was subsidised for a desk and chair when Covid first hit but not for the full amount... plus the desk isn't fit for purpose here

I don't know why people aren't understanding that I physically cannot do what they are asking me right now. Yes I have a desk but it won't fit all of the equipment they 'need' me to have. Plus within a few months I will be working in their dream setup anyway.

I'm worried they will force me into the office until they can get me the equipment, which seems to take months round here just to get something simple like a mouse!