COVID -19 has changed much of how we do things in the modern world. Aside from health and social distancing protocols like wearing a mask, washing our hands, and keeping six feet apart, many employees have switched to remote work.
However, working from home isn’t always easy. Some people can find it difficult to be as productive at home as they would be in an office environment. Fortunately, this obstacle is easy to overcome.
Your employees need a comfortable home office setup that promotes productivity. The more they feel like they’re in a professional office, the more they’ll perform that way.
But what exactly do they need? Keep reading for the most essential home office supplies.
1. An Adjustable Ergonomic Chair
If your employees do a lot of work on a computer or at a desk, they need a comfortable and supportive chair. Their office chair should have an adjustable height to make sure they’re not craning their neck all day. The best home office chair will also have adjustable lumbar support to minimize back pain.
2. A Sit-Stand Desk
If possible, we also recommend using an adjustable height desk that will allow employees to sit or stand throughout the day. Sitting all day can lead to neck pain, back pain, and poor posture. A sit-to-stand desk will give your employees the option to stand intermittently during the workday.
3. A Quality Desktop or Laptop Computer
Most modern offices run primarily off of technology. Nearly everything we do is through computers and the internet. Make sure your employees have the hardware and software they need to get their job done efficiently.
4. An Project Management System
Keeping track of your work is very important. You don’t want to miss a deadline or forget a project. Project management tools such as Asana can help you stay organized, specify deadlines, assign tasks to other team members, and can help improve team collaboration especially when the team is in different locations.
5. A Filing Cabinet
While most offices are computer and internet-based, many companies still have plenty of paperwork. Therefore, your employees need a way to keep these documents organized. We recommend a simple filing cabinet if their desk doesn’t have one built-in for a complete home office setup.
6. A Printer/Scanner
As noted above, some documents need to be physical. When working remotely, this requires an at-home printer for employees to print out paperwork. However, if they need to send documents back electronically, the printer should also be equipped with a scanner.
7. Security Equipment
Finally, your employees’ home office setups should include a way to keep sensitive information, documents, and other files safe and secure. For this reason, employees should have a small safe, or locking drawers in their desk. They should also have a shredding plan in place for when it comes time to discard sensitive documents.
Looking to Perfect the Home Office Setup of Your Employees?
If you need help getting your employees outfitted for working from home, we’re here for you. Take a look at the rest of our office supplies or check out some of our other blog articles for more home office setup ideas. Remember, the better equipped your employees are, the more productive they’ll be.