Use your individual workstation assessment and the way you work to choose between a laptop riser with a separate keyboard and mouse, or a separate display; neither route is necessary for everyone. Add a dock only if its video and charging specifications match your laptop, and check both the monitor and desk before choosing an arm. In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says workers cannot be charged for equipment that an applicable display screen equipment assessment identifies as needed.
If you regularly use a laptop at a fixed desk, decide whether your first change should be a riser and separate input devices or a separate display. The Health and Safety Executive describes both arrangements for prolonged laptop use.
If you move a work laptop between home and office, check the setup at each location rather than assuming the same accessories will suit both desks.
If desk space, cables or frequent reconnection are your main difficulties, check device compatibility and mounting conditions before choosing a dock or monitor arm.
For regular home or hybrid laptop work, start with the workstation assessment, then identify whether screen placement, connections, moving between desks or available space is your main constraint.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input placement | Check that a riser supports your laptop and leaves room for a separate keyboard and mouse, or consider a separate display. The Health and Safety Executive describes these options for prolonged laptop use. | When I spend long periods at a laptop, I want to position the screen without moving my typing surface with it; around 36% of consumers put screen-and-input separation first. |
| Display and peripheral connections | Compare the laptop port and operating system with the dock’s stated video output, display support and charging requirements. Kensington notes that USB-C connector shape alone does not establish these functions. | If I reconnect displays and peripherals regularly, I need connections that work with my laptop; for around 29% of consumers, reliable connectivity is the primary concern. |
| Moving between desks | Check what can travel between locations and whether the displays and ports differ. The Health and Safety Executive says an assessment should cover both home and office when display screen equipment is used in both. | Moving between home and office, I need a workable arrangement at each desk; portability comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Desk space and positioning | For a monitor arm, match the monitor’s VESA mounting pattern and weight to the arm, then check the desk’s thickness, edge clearance and mounting method. | On a small desk, I need to place the display without crowding the keyboard and mouse; around 14% of consumers prioritise usable desk space and positioning. |
The Health and Safety Executive says home workers may not need office-style equipment, although their existing equipment may be unsuitable. A bundle may leave the actual workstation issue unresolved.
Use the individual assessment and your desk layout to identify whether screen position, separate input devices, connections or space need attention.
Kensington notes that USB-C describes the connector; video, speed and power delivery depend on the device’s implementation.
Compare the exact laptop port, dock, display and charging specifications before choosing a connection setup.
If the connection does not support the intended arrangement, a different dock or connection arrangement may be needed.
Moving the whole laptop also moves its keyboard and trackpad. For prolonged laptop use, the Health and Safety Executive describes a separate keyboard and mouse alongside a raised screen or separate display.
Plan the screen and input positions together before choosing a riser.
An arm is useful for positioning only when the chosen monitor and desk can accommodate its mounting method.
Check the monitor’s VESA pattern and weight against the arm’s specifications, then confirm desk thickness, edge clearance and clamp or grommet requirements.
A reference point for business-oriented monitors and USB-C docks.
A reference point for separate keyboards, mice and combined input-device sets.
A reference point for laptop risers, mounting accessories and docks.
Yes, where the relevant rules’ conditions apply. In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says the rules can cover people working at home permanently or long term, or routinely splitting time between home and a workplace, when they use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland also says its rules can apply to permanent, long-term and hybrid home workers.
In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says workers cannot be charged when an applicable display screen equipment assessment indicates that action is needed, such as providing equipment. That does not make every self-selected desk upgrade an employer-funded item; the assessment outcome matters.
Choose according to the assessed workstation need and the space available, rather than assuming either item is required. For prolonged laptop use, the Health and Safety Executive describes raising the laptop screen with a separate keyboard and mouse, or using a separate display so the screen can be positioned independently.
No: a USB-C connector alone does not establish video output, display count or charging support. Kensington notes that these functions depend on implementation, so compare the exact laptop port, operating system and dock specifications with the monitors and charging requirement.
Yes, a changed workstation or change in how it is used can call for a further assessment. The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess a new workstation or changes to an existing workstation or its use, so a different monitor or laptop arrangement is worth raising through that process.