2 screen issue in WFH

Clauric

I am looking for some guidance on an issue I have with 2 screens while working from home. Currently I use a 17" G3 laptop as my primary screen, and have it attached to a 21" monitor. The G3 is my own, while the company provided the stand alone monitor.

They have recently told us that they are rolling out new laptops to all staff, and that the use of our own devices will no longer be allowed (security and what not). This is fine by me except that they are giving all users 14" laptops. They are also saying that we will not be able to adjust the resolution of the screens, and they will be set to the max resolution (19XX x 7XX)

Having used 14" laptops before, with big screens, I find that it causes significant eye pain, and a pounding headache at the end of the day, mostly from having to constantly refocus from one screen to the next. The resolution on the smaller screen will not work for me, as I have astigmatism, and the text needs to be larger for me to ba able to read it clearly.

I have asked them if there can be any allowances made, such as providing a machine with a larger screen (available to directors in the company), but have been told that is all that is available (but in a rather less diplomatic manner).

I would note that when we go back to the office (about 10 weeks according to plan), I will only have the 14" screen, as I can't transport the 21" monitor into the office (was delivered by courier).

Is there anything that I can do to help protect my eyes, and prevent the headaches?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Mrs OBumble

Go to your eye specialist, and get a letter describing your disability and the accommodations that need to be made. Give that to HR and ask them to organise with IT.

Also ask your manager how to book the courier to transport the monitor back. Best accompany that with an explanation of why you cannot transport it (I'm struggling to understand that unless you already gave some other disability).

Strumms

If it was delivered by a courier it’s reasonable to expect it can and should be collected by one too..

Ask your manager to inform you where in your job description it says you are responsible for the transportation of IT equipment....

DaraDali

You can change the text size in windows10 to suit your text size needs to reduce the strain, also blue light mode can help alot with eye strain.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-the-size-of-text-in-windows-10-1d5830c3-eee3-8eaa-836b-abcc37d99b9a

You speak about having the 17" G3, what res have you it currently set too as you speak about the limitations of (19XX x 7XX)
set from your company?

Flinty997

Our laptops are the same 14" screens. I don't use it, I just turn off the the laptop screen and plug in bigger monitors. Group policy has locked out a lot of settings but not the screen settings. Oddly power setting are blocked out so on battery the screen goes too dim.

What monitor did you have before the lockdown in the office. Could you not just use that again.

antix80

Op, if it's a company monitor and you won't be using it at home you should have your employer collect it.

I have a 24 inch monitor. Most of the time i use it with the (15 inch) laptop screen off,but it's handy to have a 2nd screen.

I doubt your employer will expect you to work on a 14" laptop. More likely you'll have a keyboard, mouse, laptop stand and large monitor.

athlone573

Most large companies will perform an ergonomics assessment, at least in the office, and I think every employer is obliged to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment.

Your request seems very reasonable. You don't necessarily need to barge in "I know my rights" style but can you explain to your manager that this rule would cause you practical difficulties in performing your role.
I don't see why they couldn't let you use an external monitor unless you're working on something very private, in which case you should be in the office anyhow.

Vologda69

I have monovision, so have one reading eye (and the other I use for distance vision). I just plug my laptop into my docking station and 24" monitor at home, so the laptop screen size is of no relevance to me anymore.