In addition to the standard stuff that nearly every employer provides, some companies provide unique equipment and incentives that make employees more comfortable and happy. These may not be offered unless you ask, but if any of these items resonate with you, it’s worth asking the question. What your company supplies may also depend on whether you’re in the office or working remotely.
Standard Equipment
Your standard equipment includes the bare essentials you need to do your job every day. Without these, employees won’t get much done. So before even considering leveling up, make sure you have your basic needs met. You should start out with the following items, at a minimum:
- Computer
- Monitor
- Mouse and keyboard
- Desk
- Chair
Additional Tools, Equipment, and Offerings
Extra monitor(s)
For knowledge workers, I think an extra monitor is essential, but not all companies agree. Having an extra monitor allows me to be much more efficient. Rather than having to minimize and maximize applications on one screen, I can have different applications open on separate screens, which enables me to move very quickly back and forth between them. Other types of workers prefer having even more than one extra monitor. If it makes sense for your job, ask for it.
Docking station
Assuming you do have multiple monitors and other ancillary tools, a docking station for your laptop (assuming you have one) is another crucial piece of equipment to have. By having a dock, you can very easily add and remove hardware devices as they are needed. It’s also a lot easier to unplug just one thing if you need to take your computer and go mobile.
Headset
While a headset isn’t necessarily a standard piece of equipment, it might be a nice-to-have, especially if you’re working in a noisy or crowded environment. I prefer to have a binaural (both ears) headset with noise cancellation. If you have only one ear covered, it can be easy to get distracted by external noise. Wearing a headset might not always be necessary, but when you need it, it’s a great tool to have.
Adjustable desks
Having a desk that can raise up or down, or maybe even tilt, helps employees stay healthier and more engaged. Rather than sitting down all day, employees can adjust the height of their desk to meet their needs, whether they are tired of sitting or ready to sit down. This is not a standard offering, so if it’s something you want your employer to provide, you’ll probably have to ask for it.
Home office allowance
For people who work from home, the standard items get you started, but there’s usually a lot more to setting up a successful home office. Rather than providing the necessary items directly to their employees, some companies are providing their employees with an allowance to set up their home environment however they want to. This could be a one-time stipend (especially for more expensive things like furniture), or a regular payment that allows people to tailor their workspace over time.
Modern ways of working
Rather than setting employees up with desktops that really can’t go much further than where they sit, employers are now providing mobile options like laptops and tablets. On top of that, they’re also modernizing the applications that people use to do their jobs, by moving on-premises software into the cloud so it can be securely accessed from anywhere.
Cell phone and internet reimbursement
If you’re working from home and footing the bill for your internet and cellphone service on your own, you may want to ask your employer to chip in, since it’s an overhead cost of doing business. Some companies have done this for a long time, while others are just now realizing the importance of their remote workforce having the proper tools to do their job. The line has become blurred between personal and business devices, and by contributing to part of the bill, the employer recognizes their employees’ contributions.
Bring your own device
If you love your Macbook Pro, but everyone else at your company is using a standard laptop, you used to be out of luck. But nowadays, employers are more open to allowing workers to bring their own devices to work. This may require a bit of additional setup and permissions, but if it improves your productivity, it may be worth the trouble.
Ergonomic equipment
Not every organization understands the negative impact of poor ergonomics, but the cost (both long-and short-term) can be very high. If you want to ensure your long-term health and well-being, you can request that your equipment be ergonomic. This typically includes devices such as your keyboard and mouse, your chair, using stands for monitors, etc.
Final Thoughts
It’s okay to have the basics, but if you want your employees to thrive, you might want to consider some of the items listed above if an employee asks for them. Not only will having this extra equipment help make your employees happy, but it will also improve their performance and efficiency.
Now, it’s your turn! Are there any other tools, equipment, or offers that you have seen to keep employees healthy and happy in their workspace? If so, please let me know in the comments below!