Rank: New forum user 
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We are an office based company and we have staff, Contractors and agency workers all working from the same office in the same conditions, we have recently had a number of staff members requesting height adjustable desks to help them with bona fide medical problems and in each case a suitable desk has been provided. Now a Contractor who would normally work from the office 3-4 days per week has a bona fide condition which has resulted in her working from home to be more comfortable (varying between a standing and seated working position). Morally I feel that we should make the same provision as we do for our staff but what is the legal position - does this persons status as a Contractor mean we have any less obligation?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I am not sure about any legal obligations but I believe in this situation we would provide a height adjustable desk( we already provide these for some of our own staff).
This would also make economic sense since if we want them to work at an optimal level we need to provide suitable kit. There would be a clear understanding that the kit belongs to the company and that as soon as they leave we take it back.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We do for our contractors in the offices
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks for replies to date, I'm happy that the morally correct thing to do is provide the desk - I'm really looking for something to dispell the possible assumption that Contractors can be treated differently on this due to their slightly different employment status - perhaps I need to raise this in an HR forum - any HR experts out there care to comment?
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Rank: Super forum user
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some contractors are a bit finnicky about their status- at the end of the day it is best practice to look after them as well. The contractors at my place don't like following the health and safety stuff- but its tough- they are here and we take their safety seriously. I had 10 contractors wouldn't complete an e learning induction because it didnt say contractor in it- so we re wrote the programme.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Fife Hope
The big question here is what does their contract say, what are they and you contracted to do or in this case provide?
Once you have this information you can then make a decision on what action to take if you are obliged under contract to provide a work station fit for use under DSE guidelines then I would say yes, if not and you decide to provide the desk you are setting a standard for others and a possible route of litigation if the desk doesn’t meet to the contractors standards or makes it worse. Also what happens at the end of contract will the desk be returned and if any damage has been done by the desk to carpets or walls who is responsible?
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