For those of you working from home we’ve developed a range of tools and resources to help make life less challenging during your time away from the office.
Microlink prides itself on our face to face workplace assessment service but during this current time with the Covid 19 virus and the directives to isolate ourselves as much as possible, we are happy to offer an alternative, remote solution. This will enable us to make certain you have the right items in place through the Workplace Adjustments program offered by your organisation. This is a short guide to help you understand how this service works.
Contact: WPA@microlinkpc.com / Tel: 023 80240300
HOW CAN WE CONNECT?
When our admin staff call you to book your assessment appointment they will ask you what your preferred method is to connect with the assessor. Your organisation may already have Webinar systems in place such as Zoom, Webex, Skype, Microsoft Teams
or Google Hangouts. Please let us know which of these you are able to use. You may need to set up a meeting invitation on your system for our assessor to join, but some systems such as Zoom or Webex we would be able to set up for you. We will do as much as we can to guide you. If you are unable to set one of these systems up we can still carry out most assessments by telephone.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP
There are a number of things you can do to help the assessor gain as much useful information as possible.
WEBCAM
If you have a Webcam on your computer it would be really useful if you could use it. Firstly, we think this makes the whole process friendlier and less impersonal than a stranger’s voice on the telephone. It’s always good to see a person’s face when you are talking to them and the webcam can really help things feel more comfortable for both parties. If you don’t feel comfortable in doing this, no problem at all we can still assess you but it will make our assessment easier if you can.
Additionally, the assessor may need to assess how you are seated at your desk and being able to see your posture gives the assessor a lot of extra information in being able to choose the right solutions for you if you have an ergonomic problem.
Lastly, if possible, the assessor may be able to “look” at your current desk setup via the camera to again decide on items of equipment that will be helpful to recommend.
DESCRIPTIONS
When we carry out face to face assessments we are usually looking at your working environment and making notes about your setup. Items such as;
- What sort of computer you have, a tablet, a laptop or desktop?
- Do you have external monitors and what size are they, are they on risers or a
monitor arm? - What type of keyboard and mouse do you currently use?
- How do you usually communicate via telephone, is it a desk phone or do you use
a soft phone system in your computer?
If you are able to give us as much useful information in relation to your working environment it really helps us build a picture.
THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP
We will supply you with various items of help and information as part of the assessment.
CHAIR MEASUREMENT GUIDANCE
If your assessor thinks that a chair recommendation is a possibility then they will need accurate measurements to enable them to find one that is the right fit for you. The assessor will provide a guide sheet that details the measurements we need for you to fill in. Additionally, the assessor will provide a link to a short video that shows exactly how to go about getting the right measurements. You will need a tape measure and another person to take the measurements for you. If this is difficult for you then please make the assessor aware.
SOLUTION EXAMPLES
The assessor will try to show you images of many of the items that they may recommend. The assessor will do this by sharing their screen with you and is another good reason to use a webinar-based system for this sort of visibility. Just as is the case with face to face assessments, the more useful information you are able to give the assessor related to your working environment and of course your disability/condition and the impact that it has on your daily role, the more focussed and relevant the recommendations in the final report will be.
