By Eric R. Elmore, PICPA’s Vice President of Business Development & Member Experience

It's been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic sent millions of workers home from the office and forced employers to figure out how to keep their companies functional. This meant creating a virtual workforce, and fast!

In the not-so-distant past, working from home was considered a perk; a reward for loyal, responsible, and often higher-paid employees. In 2025, we have more people working from home than ever before. And though many companies, such as banking giant J.P. Morgan, are requiring people to come back to the office, the work-from-home trend is not going anywhere. It’s here to stay.

The pandemic forced employers to overcome an ingrained struggle with trust: would work get done by employees working from home or would this “perk” lead to widespread abuse. They also were forced to invest in reliable and secure technology to enable and sustain the continuity of their businesses amid mandatory quarantine orders from state and local governments.

We are far beyond the mandates of a pandemic, but the PICPA is among those companies that are now 100% remote-optional, saving thousands on office space, supplies, energy, and other such expenses.

To be productive working from home, however, employees must build a functional home office space. In the process of building my own work-from-home space, I developed a list of 11 basics that I needed for a productive and functional home office. You may not need everything on this list, but these are the items I have found I cannot do without. I have not included the obvious necessities such as a computer, internet connection, and phone (cell or landline). Your ideas will vary for sure, but here are my must-haves, in no specific order.

Comfortable Workspace: Whether you choose a desk or a table to work at, you’ll need enough space to write, access keyboards, and review paperwork. A comfortable chair that provides good lumbar support is also a must. I have an architect’s desk, which is higher than most, and a chair almost like a stool. These provide the space and comfort I need to be productive while taking stress off my lower back. I also have my desk facing a window to take in light and feel like I am not couped up.

A Door: This is not as obvious as one would think. Many people working from home settle in the corner of a living room, family room, or even an open butler’s pantry. Often, though, you will take calls that need your undivided attention, either on the phone or via video (we’ll talk about this further down). The option for privacy is imperative, especially when the kids and pets are around, the dishwasher is running, or a maintenance crew comes in the house. If you can, choose space that is a little removed, such as a spare bedroom, the basement, the attic, etc. The ability to close off from the rest of the world is key to productivity … and sanity.

Multiple Monitors: I’ve been working with three computer monitors for several years, and I honestly don’t know how I operated without this number before. It hypercharges your ability to multitask, and a study by Jon Peddie Research shows multiple monitors increase productivity 20% to 30% by dramatically cutting the time to accomplish tasks. Invest in additional screens if you can or ask your employer if you can use extra monitors from the office for home use.

Webcam and Headphones: Most laptops have a built-in webcam and mic, but some older laptops and CPU-driven computers may not. Regardless, a higher-quality webcam and headset can make for a better video conference experience and heighten the professionalism of your conversations. Many have noise-cancelling ability so you and those on the other end cannot hear surrounding sounds, like a passing garbage truck or kids playing in the yard.

Video Conference and/or Phone Apps: Zoom, WebEx, Google, and MS Teams are ubiquitous. Having one or more in your arsenal is now de rigueur. There are other helpful plug-in apps as well, including whiteboards. Some suggest video is not just about connecting with other remote co-workers, but it’s also good mentally to see others’ faces when working remotely. Coupled with a quality camera and headset, virtual meetings on these platforms can, in some cases, be more efficient than meeting in person.

Virtual Meeting Backgrounds: Let’s face it, sometimes our house is not as neat as we’d like, or the kids and pets decide to video bomb us at the worst times. And maybe a shot of our vintage Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke movie poster over our shoulder is not always the best thing for clients to see. This is when having a professionally appropriate backdrop is a must. Common choices are simulations of professional workspaces, bookshelves, and natural scenery and landscapes. A backdrop with your company logo is also a good way to embed your brand with your callers. Whatever you choose, be simple and professional.

Printer/Scanner/Copier: With most home offices, there is virtually no need for paper. However, having a printer that can perform scanning and copying is a must-have piece of equipment. Some companies or clients may not have embraced technology as much as you. They might still require hard signatures or request to receive physical documents. You’ll need to be ready for this. The scanner function can also help you with electronic filing of documents, further limiting paper in your home office.

Increased Internet Bandwidth: With streaming services, cell phones, virtual personal assistants, tablets, and other devices, our home internet bandwidth may already be stretched to the limit. Add the home office computer, video conferencing, wireless printers, and other internet-using devices, and your bandwidth performance may suffer. Your internet provider should be able to arrange an increase in bandwidth. Other tricks to help with connectivity may include moving the router to a better location, changing your Wi-Fi frequency channel, updating or replacing your router, or pruning unnecessary connections. Talk to your tech person at your company to help maximize your connectivity for remote work.

Virtual A.I. Assistant: Google has long been the go-to source for finding nearly anything in the known universe, and is still a viable resource for that function. Virtual assistants using artificial intelligence, however, can often retrieve the information faster than it takes to key it on your laptop or tablet. These devices and services, such as Google Nest Hub or Amazon Echo (a.k.a. Alexa), also can be linked to online store accounts, enabling you to order things like office supplies with a simple vocal command. They also play music, giving your home office a more pleasant atmosphere.

Ample Power Outlets: Laptops, monitors, cell phones, printers, virtual assistants, lamps, and TVs all require power. Adding home office equipment can quickly overtake the number of outlets in the room, especially in older homes and apartments. If you are short on outlets, consider an extension power strip with a breaker switch to avoid short circuits affecting multiple devices. Always check with an electrician to ensure your home can handle additional power needs.

Proper Lighting: A well-lit workspace helps protect your eyes, keeps you alert, and helps others see you better when video conferencing. Proper lighting also helps improve the efficacy of virtual backgrounds. Studies indicate darker workspaces lead to less productive workers, and brighter workspaces do the opposite.

Check with your employer to see if it will reimburse you for some of these home office necessities and upgrades. Or, as mentioned earlier, if you already have these items in your office at work, see if you can use them at home.

These home-office basics will help you perform your job just as you did in the office, if not better. Good luck, and let me know some other ways you’ve enhanced your work-from-home experience.

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