for Flexible Open Floor Plans, Telecommuting, and Remote Work
Moving from a private office to a flexible open floor plan or telecommuting requires more than just a change in how you work. It can also mean modifying or adding to your existing office equipment to accommodate the unique circumstances of your new work environment.
If your local management determines that it is necessary to purchase you computing equipment, you should first check with your unit’s IT support staff for equipment recommendations that are compatible with the unit's standards. Each unit has the discretion to determine what is a reasonable and appropriate purchase. If there are no predefined or preferred items required by the unit, you can refer to the recommendations below.
Below are University IT’s recommendations for equipment. If you have any questions about this page, please contact University IT. Don't see what you need? Please contact your local IT support.
To ensure Stanford-owned equipment is appropriately inventoried and tracked, each unit must have an equipment accounting process. Regardless of the tool used (e.g., Excel, ServiceNow), the maintained information must include identifying data for each piece of equipment and the name of the person to whom the equipment is assigned.
The equipment recommended below is available through the Amazon Business portal in iProcurement (ofweb.stanford.edu > SU Internet Procurement > Amazon Business). If you want to purchase any of this equipment, you should follow your department’s purchasing process. If you want to purchase directly, you should first check with your manager on reimbursement policies.
COVID-19 Related Purchases: When completing the ordering, payment, or reimbursement for equipment purchased to support telecommuting as a result of Stanford’s response to COVID-19, the transaction’s Business Purpose must include the term COVID for reference. For more information about tagging financial transactions, visit Financial Management Services’ COVID-19 news bulletin.
A hardware bundle suitable for telecommuting may vary from unit to unit depending on business needs and the specific work you do. The following recommendation is for equipment that can work for most telecommuting scenarios and was built specifically to assist you during the COVID-19 crisis.
If you have some of this equipment at your normal Stanford work location, you should talk to your manager to see if it is reasonable to pick it up. See the Temporary Movement of Office Equipment guidelines for more information. Also, keep in mind the Provost’s request to minimize any discretionary spending in her April 2 email to the Stanford community.
You should check with your local IT staff to determine if local equipment recommendations are different.
The specific sections below provide additional purchasing information for all the equipment mentioned here. Check with your manager regarding local purchasing policies and procedures, and for purchasing approval.
If you work with High Risk Data, PHI, or other private/secure information, or if you simply desire more privacy at your workstation, consider a privacy screen. Privacy screens are polarized sheets of plastic that are placed over a computer screen to prevent screen visibility from any angle other than straight on.
Note: These links take you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. They are not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
Note: These links take you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. They are not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
In an open work environment, it is important to have wired headsets with active and passive noise cancellation. With wired headsets, you avoid having to charge the headset and you won’t run into potential interference in heavily Bluetooth-saturated areas.
If you use speakers in your private office currently, you will need to switch to a headset to avoid noise disturbances to your colleagues in an open office space.
Active and passive noise cancellation, and USB wired headset
USB Headset with Noise Cancelling Mic
Almost all laptops provisioned within the past five years already have built-in webcams. If you are unsure whether your laptop has a webcam, consult your local IT support. If you require an add-on webcam for your desktop or laptop to allow better quality and more flexibility, view the options below:
Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam
In an open flexible work environment or with any telecommuting arrangement, you will likely find yourself moving to and from various rooms and spaces quite frequently. To ensure your laptop stays charged when not at its docking station, consider an extra power adaptor to carry with you as you move about. Please contact your local IT support to determine available options.
For extra comfort when using a standing desk, a standing mat is a good option. Review the recommendations below.
This anti-fatigue cushion mat for standing features a 3/4" thick ergo-foam core which can provide excellent support and prevent feet, legs and back pain.
Staff moving from Stanford’s historic campus to Stanford Redwood City will take their existing computer systems, monitors, monitor arms, and laptops with them. If special circumstances require you to get new equipment, review the recommendations below.
Type | Apple |
---|---|
Core Macintosh Laptop | Apple MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar |
Extended Macintosh Laptop | Apple MacBook Pro 16" with Touch Bar |
Type | Dell | Lenovo |
---|---|---|
Core Windows Laptop | Dell Latitude 7400 | Lenovo ThinkPad T490s |
Extended Windows Laptop | Dell Precision 5540 | Lenovo ThinkPad P2 Gen 2 |
Windows Ultraportable | Dell Latitude 7300 | Lenovo ThinkPad X390 |
Core Windows Desktop | Dell OptiPlex 7070 Small Form Factor Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro |
Lenovo ThinkCentre M720S Small Form Factor |
Extended Windows Desktop | Dell OptiPlex 7070 Mini Tower | Lenovo ThinkCentre M920T Mini Tower |
Type | Microsoft |
---|---|
Core Windows Tablet | Microsoft Surface Pro 7 |
Staff moving from Stanford’s historic campus to Stanford Redwood City will take their existing keyboards and mice with them. If special circumstances require you to get new equipment, review the recommendations below. For any ergonomic-related questions or concerns, contact Stanford Environmental Health & Safety.
New Apple computers come equipped with wireless keyboards. If you prefer a wired keyboard, it will work with a USB-C to USB adapter.
Note: These links take you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. They are not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
PC Laptops and desktops can use either wired or wireless keyboards.
Note: These links take you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. They are not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
Protect your laptop and the information that's on it with a laptop lock for your Mac or PC.
Note: This link takes you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. It is not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
Note: These links take you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. They are not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
Take your work on the road with these helpful and ergonomic accessories.
Note: This link takes you to vendor pages where you can get product specifications. It is not intended to direct you to a purchasing suggestion. Click the View purchasing instructions button below for additional information.
Fentri Laptop Bag with Built-in Laptop Stand: A laptop bag with built-in, adjustable, folding laptop stand enabling you to create an ergonomic work space on-the-go.
When telecommuting, Stanford Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Ergonomics recommends use of an external keyboard, external mouse, and either an external monitor or a laptop riser to help maintain neutral upright postures.
For more information about telecommuting ergonomics, visit EH&S Telecommuting and Mobile Ergonomics.
Go to Telecommuting and Mobile ErgonomicsGo to the Ergonomics Product List