Update: HR wanted a home ergonomic check, I negotiated it down and learned a lot

Following up on my post from a few weeks ago about HR saying they wanted to send someone to do ergonomic assessments for remote employees.

A bunch of you told me to slow down, get the policy in writing, and push for a virtual option first. I did that.

I emailed HR and my manager and asked a few specific things: where the requirement is written in the handbook or safety policy, what data they would collect, whether photos or video would be stored, and what alternatives exist if someone is not comfortable with an in-home visit. HR’s first reply was pretty generic. I replied and kept it very procedural: I am happy to comply, but I need to understand the scope and how long any data is retained.

They offered a remote assessment over video and said I could point the camera only at my desk area. No recording. They also sent a checklist ahead of time. The actual call was about 15 minutes and felt more like a quick posture and desk-setup chat than a home inspection.

Surprisingly, it helped. I raised my monitor a bit, added a cheap footrest, and stopped working from the couch during slow meetings. My neck has been noticeably better this week.

Two quick takeaways: ask to see the written policy and ask how data and recordings are handled, and propose a virtual walkthrough with a limited scope. They may be testing how much people will accept without questions.

Curious if anyone else has seen these ramp up recently, especially paired with RTO chatter?