How to $pend that WFH stipend
With the rise of remote work, we’ve also noticed a rise in companies offering stipends to help workers outfit their home office with everything they need to work productively from home. These budgets can range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand!
You may be able to negotiate a home office stipend if it’s not a standard benefit your company offers. If it is standard, take advantage of it and use that money—it is literally part of your compensation.
Let’s talk about how to maximize this stipend while also allowing yourself to enjoy nice things. It’s called balance.
Start with the basics, then add comfort
Working in an office usually comes with a desk, chair, computer, and some space to display personal items like knick-knacks and photos. Your home office is no different. You aren’t obligated to decorate it as minimally as possible to save the company money. It’s your stipend, and you can spend it how you want.
The basic needs for your home office are:
a desk or work surface
a computer or laptop (and possibly a second monitor)
a mouse, keyboard, and speakers
a comfortable, supportive chair
webcam and microphone for meetings
headphones
a printer/scanner/copier
Once you’ve got the basics figured out, take a look at the space with fresh eyes and notice what makes you feel comfortable and at home. This might be art on the walls, photos of your family, lamps or candles, or a cushion for your chair to provide more support.
Beyond the psychological comfort of your workspace, consider your physical needs—especially if you have disabilities that can be accommodated easily. This category might include a footstool, a gel pad for resting your wrists when you type, a monitor stand to raise your workspace for better ergonomics, etc. Some people invest their work-from-home stipend in an adjustable standing desk and a walking pad to allow themselves to work standing up and get some movement in during work hours.
Throw in some decor and whimsy
Most stipends allow for some functional decor as well, like a decorative wall calendar, a colorful desk organizer, cute coasters or mousepads, etc. You could even get a bookshelf for behind your desk so you can show off how well-read you are on your Zoom calls.
Add some plants too. And a dog bed for your number one coworker, if you’ve got room in the stipend budget.
Don’t be afraid to upgrade
If you’ve had your basic office equipment for multiple years, it may be due for an upgrade. Check in with your company to see if they have any limitations on how often you can replace things like a desk chair or computer. You may also benefit from updating your storage with an external hard drive to keep backups of your work files.
If you’ve got all of the above handled and you still have some stipend to spend, consider upgrading your office with things that benefit your health and wellness, like blue light filtering glasses to reduce eye strain, a sunlight lamp, or an air purifier.
When all else fails, get office supplies
New notebooks and pens never hurt anybody.
If you truly don’t need anything for your own home office, you can purchase some school supplies with the stipend and donate them to local schools and shelters.
Want to find a remote job with a WFH stipend? Book a vibe check with one of our career coaches today to see if we can help you find what you’re looking for.
