Start with the workstations you use at home and in the office, rather than buying the same accessories for every laptop setup. For employees covered by display screen equipment (DSE) requirements, the Health and Safety Executive says the assessment should consider both locations and the whole workstation; if it identifies equipment the employer must provide, workers cannot be charged for it. Your next choice depends on whether screen and input positioning, desk connections, portability or calls are the main issue, with dock compatibility checked against the exact work laptop.
The useful accessory depends on how the laptop is used at each work location, not just on whether it is used at home.
If sustained home work is done mainly on the laptop itself, start with screen and input positioning. The Health and Safety Executive says DSE assessments for workers using both home and office should cover both situations and the whole workstation.
A desk with a monitor, charging connection and USB peripherals may make a dock worth considering. Match its display and power requirements to the work laptop: Belkin, Kensington and Dell publish model-specific conditions for their docks.
If the desk must be cleared or accessories moved between locations, a compact keyboard, mouse or hub may be more practical than a permanently connected arrangement. Check the space available for both the screen and separate inputs.
Check the employer’s DSE process before paying for equipment that an assessment may identify as required. Then identify the main obstacle in your own setup; a dock solves a different problem from a raised screen or separate keyboard.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input positioning | Check screen placement, desk depth and keyboard and mouse reach together; raising a laptop may call for separate input devices. | If the laptop screen needs to sit higher, I still need a usable position for typing and pointing. Around 36% of consumers would put screen and input positioning first. |
| Displays and connections | Match the exact laptop’s video output, host port and charging requirement to the intended monitor arrangement and dock or hub. | At a fixed desk, I want the planned displays and peripherals to connect without repeatedly rearranging cables. Roughly 29% of consumers would make connection needs their first priority. |
| Portability and desk space | Check packed size, connection method and whether the keyboard, mouse and screen arrangement fit the available surface. | When I have to clear the desk or move between locations, bulky equipment may be difficult to use consistently. About 21% of consumers would prioritise a setup they can move or put away. |
| Call hardware | Check the work device’s permissions, conferencing-platform compatibility and where a camera or headset would sit. | If meetings are the main difficulty, I need a camera or audio arrangement that works with my approved work setup. Around 14% of consumers would put call hardware first. |
For applicable employees in Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says an assessment must consider the workstation and that workers cannot be charged for equipment required by the employer’s assessment.
Ask how your home and office setups are assessed before personally ordering a monitor, dock, stand or peripheral for work.
A USB-C plug does not establish which displays or charging arrangement will work with a particular laptop. Belkin directs buyers to check device display support, while Kensington specifies separate conditions for USB-A use on one of its docks.
Confirm the laptop model, host-port functions, intended monitors, charging requirement, operating system and any workplace restrictions before choosing a dock.
Moving a laptop screen changes where its built-in keyboard and trackpad sit. The Health and Safety Executive advises assessing the whole workstation rather than treating one accessory in isolation.
Check whether a separate keyboard and mouse are needed and whether the screen and inputs can all fit the desk arrangement.
The Health and Safety Executive says DSE arrangements should be reviewed when a workstation is new, its use changes or a user reports pain or discomfort.
Revisit the arrangement after changing work locations, adding a display or dock, or substantially changing how the desk is used.
These brands illustrate different accessory types. Check the specifications of the particular model and its fit with your assessed workstation; a brand name alone does not establish compatibility.
Business-oriented monitors and docks for a fixed home workstation.
Separate keyboards, mice, webcams and headsets for desk and meeting setups.
USB-C docks and hubs for connecting displays and peripherals to a laptop.
Docks and desk accessories, including options described for USB-C and legacy USB-A laptops.
These choices cover laptop connections, separate keyboard and mouse input, and video-call hardware. Choose the accessory that addresses your assessed setup, then check its requirements against the exact work device.
No image available
Consider this dock for a fixed desk where two HDMI display connections are part of the planned setup.
The product name specifies dual HDMI 4K connections and 100W Power Delivery pass-through. Confirm the laptop’s display and charging capabilities, and check what power equipment is supplied.
No image available
This hub suits a desk that needs several connection types, provided the laptop supports the intended video arrangement.
Its product name lists two HDMI outputs, USB-A and USB-C ports, RJ45, SD/TF slots and a USB-C Power Delivery input. Confirm USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode support and the power actually delivered to the laptop before relying on it for video and charging.
No image available
A separate keyboard and mouse may be useful when a raised laptop screen makes its built-in inputs awkward to position.
The product name identifies a dual-mode keyboard-and-mouse set. Confirm its keyboard layout and work-device connection requirements; these input devices do not raise the screen.
No image available
Consider a separate webcam when camera placement or call hardware is the main issue in the work setup.
The product name specifies 4K video, a Sony sensor, four microphones, fixed focus and a 98° adjustable field of view. Confirm work-device permissions and conferencing-platform compatibility before choosing it.
No image available
This adapter is a choice for a laptop setup needing one external display alongside wired network or USB connections.
The product name specifies 4K HDMI, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, 100W Power Delivery and two USB 3.0 ports. Its stated video arrangement is limited to one display; check the laptop’s USB-C video support and the output you intend to use.
They can apply if you meet the conditions for a regular DSE user. The Health and Safety Executive says assessments in Great Britain should cover both home and office situations; the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland also says DSE requirements can apply to home workers.
For a hybrid worker covered by DSE requirements, the Health and Safety Executive says both the home and office situations should be assessed. The assessment looks at the whole workstation, work conditions, job and individual requirements—not just the laptop or a proposed accessory.
For applicable employees in Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says workers cannot be charged when a DSE workstation assessment identifies action the employer must take, such as providing equipment. Whether a particular monitor, dock or peripheral is required depends on that individual assessment.
No USB-C dock can be assumed to do both with every laptop. Check the exact host port, supported display arrangement, operating system and charging requirement against the dock: Belkin advises checking device display support, and Kensington specifies host and power conditions for its docks.
Revisit it when the workstation or its use changes, or if you report pain or discomfort. The Health and Safety Executive says DSE arrangements should be kept under review, so a new monitor, dock or input arrangement is a sensible point to check the complete setup again.