Choose equipment to address the particular issue identified in your home-working display screen equipment (DSE) assessment, rather than assuming every laptop worker needs a monitor, stand or dock. Before buying anything yourself, check your employer’s provision arrangements and whether your exact laptop supports the connections the proposed setup requires.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says a DSE assessment considers the whole workstation, including equipment and working conditions. These groups may therefore need different changes even when they use similar laptops.
If the assessment identifies screen position, reflections or glare as an issue, consider the proposed display change alongside the rest of the workstation. An extra monitor is not an automatic requirement.
The HSE workstation checklist covers keyboards and pointing devices as well as screens. A screen-position change may need to be considered alongside a separate keyboard, mouse or trackball.
Workers who move between home and office may want a simpler way to reconnect displays and peripherals. Kensington notes that a USB-C connector alone does not establish the laptop’s video, data or charging capabilities.
Start with the assessment finding and your employer’s equipment arrangements, then check whether the proposed devices work together. The most relevant checks depend on the change you need to make.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen arrangement | Match the proposed change to the assessment finding; check the monitor input and the laptop’s video connection. | If the assessment points to screen position or glare, I need a display arrangement that works in my available space. Around 31% of consumers would put that screen concern first. |
| Keyboard and pointing device | Check the assessed task and working area, device compatibility and any employer IT requirements. | If my laptop setup makes separate input devices relevant, I need to choose a keyboard and pointing device for that task. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Desk connectivity | Check the exact laptop port’s video, data and charging capabilities against the dock and required devices. | When I move between home and office, I want to reconnect the equipment my work requires without assuming one USB-C port can do everything. For around 25% of consumers, connectivity would be the main concern. |
| Remote calls | Confirm the role’s call requirements, approved software and whether the supplied equipment already meets them. | If my work calls require video or audio equipment beyond what I already use, I need a device my employer can support. This would be the primary need for around 13% of consumers. |
For workers covered by the DSE requirements, the assessment helps identify what action is needed. HSE says workers cannot be charged when that action includes providing necessary equipment.
Ask your employer which workstation change has been identified and how equipment will be provided before placing an order yourself.
Kensington explains that USB-C describes the connector; video, data speed and power delivery depend on the computer’s implementation.
Compare the exact laptop port, operating system and dock specifications with the displays, peripherals and charging capability you need.
An incompatible cable or power supply may also need to be changed before the intended connection works.
HSE assessment guidance covers the task, equipment, furniture and working conditions. A monitor or laptop stand addresses only part of that arrangement.
After changing the screen position, check how the keyboard and pointing device will be used, as well as the available space and lighting.
A manufacturer’s description of a keyboard or mouse does not establish that it suits an individual workstation or provides a therapeutic benefit.
Use the assessment finding, the work task and device compatibility to narrow the choice. Ask your employer for appropriate DSE advice if the assessment calls for it.
These brands have product lines relevant to particular display, connectivity or input-device needs; their inclusion does not mean a specific model is required for your workstation.
Dell offers monitors and USB-C or Thunderbolt docks that may be relevant where an assessment identifies a display need or a desk setup requires supported connections.
Kensington offers docks, hubs, risers and input accessories for workstation changes involving positioning or connectivity.
Logitech offers keyboard, mouse and trackball formats relevant when an assessment identifies an input-device choice.
HSE says the DSE requirements can apply to permanent, long-term and routine hybrid home workers who use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more. Whether they apply to your arrangement depends on your working pattern and DSE use.
HSE says a worker with suitable training may complete a self-assessment, but a trained assessor should review the results, resolve doubtful points and ensure problems are addressed. Completing an assessment form does not by itself settle which equipment is needed.
HSE says a worker cannot be charged when a DSE workstation assessment indicates that action such as providing equipment is needed. Check the assessment finding and your employer’s provision process before buying the item yourself.
Agree who will provide equipment, how any personal purchase or repair will be handled, and what IT support and security rules apply. Acas advises employers and staff to agree arrangements for home-working equipment and repairs.
No: the USB-C connector alone does not establish whether a laptop supports the video, data and power functions you need. Kensington advises checking the manufacturer’s implementation, so compare the exact laptop and dock specifications with your intended displays and peripherals.