Working Effectively from Home

As many of us continue to work from home, here are some top tips to help you work effectively remotely.

• Although you may be short on space at home (especially if you are sharing this with other family members), try and find a suitable workstation with minimal distractions and noise.
• Consider using a separate keyboard and mouse if working from a laptop, and ask IT about getting an additional monitor if you are struggling with a small screen.
• Make sure your chair is comfortable and supportive, and is at the right height so that your computer screen is eye-level. You could try adding cushions to your chair, or placing books under your screen to adjust the height.
• Contact hr@bnc.ox.ac.uk for a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment form.

Prevent Eye Strain

Looking at a screen for prolonged periods of time can lead to eye strain (symptoms include dry/watery eyes, blurred vision and headaches). To help prevent this, follow the 20-20-20 rule to ensure you are taking frequent breaks from the screen:

For those who wear glasses when working, consider getting a pair with anti-glare coating to help reduce the reflection from the computer screen. This can help prevent eye strain and improve focus.

Take a Break

Sitting at a desk for too long can affect posture, circulation and lead to reduced energy and tiredness. Take a break from your desk every so often to move around and stretch. There are various Apps available to download that will send you reminders to get up and move throughout the day.

Working Flexibly

We appreciate that many of you may have homeschooling or caring responsibilities to juggle alongside your work. Talk to your manager about flexible working and agree a working pattern that is suitable and realistic for you.

IT Support

There is a range of support and advice from IT available in the ‘Staff How To Guides’ section of this website, to help you get set up and work effectively remotely.