A laptop-only setup can be adequate when an assessment of the worker’s home and office arrangements finds that it supports a comfortable, sustainable posture and meets the job’s display, input and call requirements. Add equipment to address an identified issue, rather than issuing the same kit to everyone; docks and docking monitors also require laptop-specific display and charging checks.
Hybrid staff deciding whether their existing laptop arrangement works at both locations. The Health and Safety Executive advises considering the home and office workstations, the task and the individual’s needs before deciding whether more equipment is necessary.
Workers who regularly reconnect a display, keyboard, mouse, network connection or charger at a fixed desk and need to check how their particular laptop supports those connections.
Workers whose role calls for a webcam, headset or other approved conferencing equipment, whether or not their workstation assessment identifies a separate display-screen issue.
For sustained home or hybrid screen work, establish the workstation and job requirement first, then check that any proposed equipment fits the worker’s desk, laptop and employer arrangements.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen position | Assess screen placement at home and in the office. For an arm, check the monitor’s VESA fitting and weight against the arm and desk mounting method. | If my screen is awkward to position for sustained work, I need a setup that fits each desk. Around 31% of consumers put screen placement first. |
| Keyboard and mouse | Check input-device placement and desk space, then confirm the connection method is compatible with the laptop and employer policy. | When moving my laptop screen leaves its keyboard or trackpad in the wrong place, I need to arrange input devices separately; around 25% of consumers prioritise that need. |
| Display and dock connections | Compare the laptop’s documented video output and charging requirement with the exact monitor or dock’s display modes, power delivery and included cable. | If I reconnect a display and peripherals regularly, I want those connections to work with my laptop. This is the primary concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Work-call equipment | Confirm required camera and microphone functions, approved meeting software, connection method and support arrangements. | When calls are central to my role, I need equipment that works with our approved platform; around 19% of consumers place call capability first. |
For relevant display-screen equipment users, the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland emphasise assessing workstation risks. The same bundle may leave one worker’s issue unresolved while giving another equipment they do not need.
Consider the work and individual needs at both locations, then select equipment that addresses the issues identified.
DisplayPort describes video, data and power capabilities over USB-C, but a connector’s shape does not establish the display or charging configuration supported by a particular laptop and accessory.
Compare the laptop’s documented video output and charging requirement with the exact dock or monitor’s display modes, power delivery, ports and included cable.
Weight, VESA fitting and desk mounting matter too. Kensington specifies VESA 75/100 mounting, a limit of 34 inches and 8 kg, and clamp or grommet fitting for its SmartFit Ergo Single Monitor Arm; other arms need their own checks.
Compare the monitor and desk with the specifications of the exact arm before ordering.
An incompatible fitting may mean changing the mount or desk-fixing arrangement.
A device that connects successfully can still be unsuitable for an employer-managed setup if approved connection methods, technical support or repair responsibilities are unclear. Acas advises employers and staff to agree what equipment is needed and who will provide and maintain it.
Agree the approved equipment, provision arrangements and support process before a worker purchases it.
A reference for business USB-C docks in workstations using Dell laptops or mixed-device fleets.
A reference for USB-C or Thunderbolt docking monitors where a display and peripheral connections are needed at one desk.
A reference for separate keyboards, mice, webcams and headsets where the workstation or role calls for them.
A reference for an adjustable monitor arm where the assessed setup and existing desk support arm mounting.
No. The Health and Safety Executive says home workers in Great Britain may not need additional equipment if they can achieve a comfortable, sustainable posture; the decision should follow assessment of their home and office arrangements and work. Northern Ireland guidance likewise calls for assessing relevant display-screen equipment users and addressing identified risks.
In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says the requirements can apply to long-term home workers and people who routinely divide their work between home and the workplace. Its guidance identifies users who work with display-screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more; the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland describes the same daily, hour-or-more pattern for users covered by its guidance.
Yes, where a worker uses display-screen equipment in both places, the Health and Safety Executive says the assessment should cover both situations. It should consider the whole workstation, the work performed and individual requirements.
No. The Health and Safety Executive states that workers in Great Britain cannot be charged when a display-screen equipment assessment identifies action such as providing equipment as necessary. That Great Britain guidance should not be treated as a statement of the separate Northern Ireland rules.
Check the laptop’s documented video-output capability and charging requirement against the exact dock or monitor’s supported display configurations, inputs, power delivery and cable. As DisplayPort explains, USB-C can carry video, data and power where supported, but the connector alone cannot confirm that a particular combination will do so.