Work From Home (WFH) Commonly Expensed Products and Procurement List: What To Buy Your Remote Staff in 2024

Remote work is here to stay. If you ask yourself: what to buy remote staff to empower these workers, you are in the right place.

If you want to empower your employees when they work from home, you likely will want to help them to procure and use the most useful products on the market so that they can do their best work. This includes even the basics that many employees don’t have, such as a metal desk. And we also included items that are important to smaller populations of workers such as a sublimation printer

Many companies have corporate issued laptops to conduct work. This article does not focus on computers, as we assume you have supplied these to your staff.

Rather, this article covers the most important products that remote workers need to conduct business from home.

If you are unsure what to buy your staff, you can use the list that follows to think through the most important (and commonly expensed) office supplies that remote workers need at home.

When setting the scope of your WFH policy ensure that your remote staff can do their best work. This list has essential products only (for IT equipment and Furniture).

If you have a specific need due to the nature of your role or business that you support, feel free to add to this list, which is not exhaustive.

We have reviewed transaction data from remote workers and aggregated their procurement behavior so that you can learn from it, use it, and ensure the best outcomes for your staff.

If employees are unable to transport office equipment from their work location, consider buying the following for your staff or giving them the option to order these items online. This list has three options per category and includes:

Top Product: best overall relative to quality and durability.
Premium Choice: expensive but the result is the best quality product.
Best Value: really good and most affordable.

You are free to set up whatever WFH procurement policy you want and we have included an FAQ to help you address issues that might arise that you will likely need to answer.

If you want to know what to buy remote staff, this guide is for you.

The Must Haves

WFH – Webcams so remote staff can appear on video

WFH – Printers for staff to print at home

WFH – Chairs to keep remote workers comfortable

Top Product: Sadie Task Chair-Fixed Arm Computer Chair

Premium Choice: Hbada Office Task Desk Chair

Best Value: Devoko Office Chair Ergonomic Mid Back Swivel Mesh Chair

WFH – Desks so your staff can work from home

Top Product: Bestier Computer Desk

Premium Choice: HSH Industrial Home Office Desk

Best Value: Viewee Computer Desk

Here is also an FAQ that you can share with your staff to help them understand why you are buying (or supporting the purchase of these products).

Q: Do I have to return WFH equipment when we go back to the office?

A: For most companies, IT Asset equipment may be kept at home while employed, but must be returned at the end of employment. This is true for devices including printer stands and portable printers.

Q: What happens if I leave my job, who owns expensed equipment?

A: Any equipment purchased and reimbursed by the firm is considered property of the firm. This equipment, such as a vertical monitor, dual monitor stand, or even an HDMI adapter will need to be returned at the end of employment.

Q: I have been advised to WFH and need to take meetings through Zoom but don’t have a headset, what should I do?

A: There are many types of headsets available to meet your needs. To find a pair of headphones that is right for you, check out this review article.