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)

Do an ai photo?

Put in a request for the monitor and keyboard from work. They can't expect you to have them if they haven't given them to you. Leave the photo request until the deadline and if you don't have the stuff by then, respond explaining that you're still waiting on it.

You may manage to fit the keyboard and monitor on your desk. If not, get a deeper piece of MDF cut to size at B&Q and attached it to the top of your desk so it's deeper front to back. It won't be pretty but it'll be functional. Your laptop will fit on the shelf below. Alternatively (and maybe easier) remove the desk now and replace with a basic table/desk from IKEA for £25. I would suggest you just need to find space for it. The chair you will need anyway for your new office so just get it now (though it's appalling if they don't supply it IMO).

Or you could try borrowing a camping table, but not sure I would risk that.

I know it sticks in your craw but I would try to jump through this hoop with as little fuss as possible.

they should fund things like a second monitor. Just buy a desk off fb market and put your laptop on there. Mouse/keyboard-you can buy it for under £10. You are making a big deal out of this

@Autumnsprings didn't read the thread either?

Tbh i find it hard to believe you are working as effectively as you could, with no mouse or anything. Everyone knows the track pads are much less efficient when you are working quickly.
And if I'm honest I think it's a bit unprofessional to be sat on your sofa too. Where you work and your surroundings reflects your mindset, you need a proper space where you have space for better equipment. Laptops give flexibility but have never been intended for permanent all day usage which is why workplaces generally have monitors, keyboards etc to plug into.
It sounds like you just like wfh but actually shouldnt be, as you don't have an appropriate space to do so in order to be effective.

Could you not hire desk space at an office complex for a half day. One in our closest city comes with docking stations etc as part of the deal I believe? I also work for the NHS and they supply a whole variety of brands etc to us. If working from home we have to use their laptops that are supplied with remote access to key systems. So they know who is accessing the network I guess.

You could always take a pick in “the office” with your laptop and a cheap riser. If they query it then point out they have never supplied want they want you to have.

What advice do you specifically want? You are saying no to everything. You are literally catastrophising for no reason. There has been plenty of good advice on this thread.

Please don't try and insinuate I'm not effective or efficient because I WFH. I work harder and am more productive than anyone else in my team. This is what works for me, and has done for a long time., before others were working from home due to Covid.

Nobody knows I work from the sofa because we use a standardised background.

Would it be so horrific to have to attend your workplace in person just for a couple of weeks until this is sorted?
Tbh your home sounds like the last place you should be working - mid renovation and so many boxes etc everywhere that there is literally nowhere you could set up a small computer table with a monitor, keyboard and mouse on it?! It just doesn't sound a suitable work environment at all.

Well I'd like people not to repeat the same points over and over again that have already been addressed

Yes, it would be so horrific. Hence needing reasonable adjustments not to have to do it.

My living room that I work from is completely free of any clutter and away from any boxes, it's not like I'm working at home while the work is happening

Well then, if it would be that terrible the answer is to crack on and sort a proper WFH set up

You shouldn’t expect any groundbreaking ideas here. The approach will be fairly standard e.g., things like requesting the necessary equipment from HR, renting an office space for a few hours. There will inevitably be some repetition, simply because this kind of problem only has a limited number of viable solutions!

I'm leaving this thread now, work has been an utter nightmare today without this and I'll be honest I'm losing the will to live when people don't seem to read anything I've written. For example having reasonable adjustments due to ASD meaning I don't have to always be in an office environment.... so yeah I'll just go rent a space in an unfamiliar workplace with strangers...

If they won't allow you to use your own screen, keyboard and mouse, how are you going to have a suitable set up when your renovations are done?

If this is the case and you don't have another NHS colleague who'd let you photo their equipment (maybe mocked up in your own house), you need to be requesting that equipment ASAP or this is something that can come back and bite you at any time.

(In fact you need to be requesting even if you could fudge a photo right now - because if you've told them you've got stuff when you haven't, you may not be able to request it in the future).

people are giving you plenty of ideas (including mine that you’ve ignored) and you’re saying no… so what exactly do you want? for people to say “outrageous! sue them!”? stop being such a whinge for god’s sake

You could take a photo of you at a desk at a friends house?

We are, but it is a bit confusing.

They may not be out to get you, you could try best endeavours and see what they come back with. You've said you don't have the right official equipment from them so maybe this is not about sanctioning anyone but making sure they supply what they need to.

I think you can minimise the impact on you by playing the game a bit, ordering what you can from them and making an effort towards a desk set up. It will be an easier battle than going all in on fighting to stay on the sofa.

This. Always prefer working on the couch, just a preference. But sent them a snap of desk and chair which I do have but only use occasionally. It's not that big a deal, just a formality x

Some people may not have read the full thread, but others have and they have given you some sensible solutions or ideas, most of which you have ignored. You haven't helped yourself in your responses, and quite frankly you come across as rude.

😆 who cares if she works on the couch...I work most effectively when I'm in a comfortable and relaxed space.
Boomer nonsense from people who just don't like WFH.

I’m guessing she’ll be blaming the ASD for how rude she’s come across…

If you don't have a proper desk at home, your previously-agreed adjustments will no longer be "reasonable".

I also work for the NHS mainly from home. I have a mixture of NHS and my own equipment and there has been no issue. You need a riser that is open at the bottom, you can then put your keyboard and mouse underneath with your laptop on the top. Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adjustable-Portable-Computer-Foldable-Aluminum/dp/B08DY9Z6LH/ref=ascdfB08DY9Z6LH?mcid=8e64aee52eb832bdac2cd05e2b6e53cc&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697359334064&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6434287402001300762&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9218686&hvtargid=pla-969061858459&psc=1&hvocijid=6434287402001300762-B08DY9Z6LH-&hvexpln=0&gadsource=1. You can get that and a wireless mouse on Amazon very cheaply and next day delivery. Set it up on your kitchen table if needed and snap your picture.

Having your head bent down all day to look at a laptop screen will kill your neck. Ask me how I know this...