Relocation & Return of Non-Inventorial Office Equipment Plan Guidelines
Departments should develop a plan to relocate, as necessary, any non-inventorial office equipment (NIOE) to remote worksites.
- Identify who is eligible to retrieve office equipment. Employees who are working 100% remotely should be given priority for removing the equipment they need. If an employee is assigned to work at UCLA, then a safe and functional workstation must remain at their campus work site and equipment should not be removed.
- Define what can be removed. NIOE includes items such as chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and small freestanding ergonomic equipment such as sit/stand desktop devices. Monitors and printers are also considered essential NIOE for computer work and should be prioritized. Larger items and those affixed to office spaces/cubicles (for example, desks and tables) should not be removed for home-usage.
- Establish a procedure for removal and return. Departments are responsible for coordinating building access and may choose to have employees (with supervisory approval) pick up items or, when needed, have chairs and equipment delivered. Supervisors should review procedures with employees, including proper handling of materials and verifying their ability to safely remove equipment. See related information for safe lifting fact sheets. All employees coming to campus and their departments must follow campus procedures for minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
- Document the removal process. It is recommended that items being removed are logged on a UCLA Equipment Removal Request Form to ensure accurate record-keeping of UCLA property. Further, departments must communicate their expectations to employees before any property is removed, as employees will be held responsible for missing equipment. Any property that is removed from campus must be returned when the employee is directed to do so.
- Request to return office equipment to campus. All office equipment must be returned to UCLA in accordance with the department's operational plan. The University has an agreement with Modular & Data Services (MDS) to pick-up equipment from an employee’s remote worksite and return the items to the UCLA campus.
Please request a quote from MDS and submit an "A" Class release utilizing Base Agreement #0000KZA038. To schedule a pick-up and delivery, email a completed UCLA Equipment RETURN TO CAMPUS Request form to:
Modular and Data Services
Abraham Ortega
Email: abraham@modularanddataservices.com
Phone: 323-819-2000
Frequently Asked Questions
The core of a department's plan is deciding how to distribute equipment approved for removal. Coordination with various stakeholders (IT, Building Operations, Security), and consideration of the workforce size are necessary for success. Appointments are strongly encouraged to minimize occupants within buildings and maintain a smooth and orderly system.
We recommend departments allow chairs to be taken home. Items such as desks, tables, and storage cabinets should remain on campus. Emailcontact@ergonomics.ucla.eduto discuss specific situations.
Small free-standing ergonomic accessories present at the employee's workstation should be considered for removal. Examples include: footrests, headsets, desk lamps, palm rests, and mouse pads. Items that require installation, or are mounted to furniture or real estate should remain on campus. Examples of items that should not be removed are height adjustable tables, clamp-on sit/stand units, keyboard trays, monitor arms, and marker/tack boards. Emailcontact@ergonomics.ucla.eduto discuss specific situations.
Employees who report discomfort associated with their remote workstation should request a remote evaluation. See related information "Remote Evaluation Request."
Campus is the principal worksite and a department must provide a safe and functional workstation at the principal work site. While small equipment such as keyboards and mice can be reasonably moved between work sites, a department will need to consider the feasibility of allowing other items to be removed.
