Can someone help justify why I should have a computer at work, rather than bring my own personal laptop?

Question

Here's the deal. I am in a newly created position where I work out of a satelite office. I bring my personal laptop to work, as my position entails MANY duties with a computer that would take too long to explain-- letters, fliers, posters, email, research, etc. Our school director at first said I could come to the school once in a while to do computer work, which is just CRAZY. So, until they could justify the budget, I said I'd bring my own from home.

Now that I have been in this position six months and have shown the need for it-- I brought it up again. How silly is this for crying out loud-- I have to make a list of 20 reasons to justify the need for a computer. Are you kidding me? At any rate, I have listed my specific things I do on the computer..... I am looking for some other answers-- such as any laws about personal computers containing company info (do I own it?), etc. Things that will wow them.

Thanks so much!!

Someone answered and said I needed to build trust and they must have misunderstood- I am just in a new POSITION-- I've been with the company five years. Also, I am not asking for a laptop, just a desktop to stay at the office I work out of. I am already linked to this agencie's wi-fi and have access to the Internet and printers....

Also, I am not plugging into a system-- I work for a school out of a satelite office space we rent at an employment agency. I print all my own things, as well as just email things to my director for approval-- I would not be on a network-- I just need a stand-alone computer. ; )

Answer 1

while there are no laws governing the use of a personal comp. at work, there are MANY reasons why you should NOT bring one in.First of all, if it were to get stolen or broken would the company be willing to replace it? I think not. Do they want their personal info on your computer? Sounds like they are leaving themselves wide open on this. If they want you to do work that requires a computer THEY need to get one for you to use. By bringing your own, they have just saved themselves money, by not having to buy one (why buy the cow when the milk is free). If they balk at buying a computer for you to use, then I would insist that they let you work from home. At least then you will be getting a tax deduction for a home office and saving the cost of commuting. I suppose you are also using your own printer, ink and paper?? Boy this company has it made, you are footing the bill, for something they are responsible for. If I were you, I would demand a computer to use, citing many of the reasons I have given you--if they refuse, well then maybe your computer has coincidentally "broken" or gotten a "virus" and is unusable. Whatever the case maybe, dont be a sucker, the company has more money than you do--let them pick up the expenses.!!

Answer 2

I think that you should bring up security issues which arise because the laptop is out of the office when you are. Private data? Software liscensing agreements violated?
Ergonomics - your laptop invites carpal tunnel syndrome.... they're not designed to be worked on all day. A larger screen will help the eyes and enable more productivity.
Laptop probably doesn't have the storage space that you'll need.
Also, contact your employer's Purchasing
organization to get a price on the hardware and software required to perform your duties.
Just some thoughts.

Answer 3

because when you plug into the system you may scew it up.

An escrow officer was being all cute and brought in her lap top. When she was doing something she screwed up the system and overloaded it. Now this is a national title insurance company and it costed A LOT of money to fix her mistake.

besides you've only been at your job for six months. Big fuc.n deal. you haven't paid ANY dues to have such liberties. Because of this they cannot yet trust that you will work and not screw around online, face it, MANY MANY MANY ppl screw around while "working". Wait longer and build a better trust with your employer.

Answer 4

At first I thought you wanted to use your own laptop, and I thought they weren't letting you, which is usually the case.

IT people do not want people to use their own laptops because they could bring in viruses or malware onto the network. Also, people have successfully sued to get filters for email so they aren't subject to sexual and other abuse in email.

Ergonomics is another factor. Laptops are not meant to be used a great deal. You need separate screen, keyboard mouse.

It is likely the school has a policy on ergonomics, email abuse, virus on computers and so on - all of which you would actually think require you *not* to use your own computer.

Answer 5

Either you have a LOUSY boss or he is someone who rose up in his position w/out knowing anything about IT. Could be someone who thinks PCs are still so expensive and does not even have one in his house. Look for a better employer and I think w/ your experience, that won't be a problem.

If I were your boss and I could not get the BIG BOSS to approve a computer for you, I would have just pulled out one of my backup PCs in my home network where I have 3 laptops and 5 desktops. Nothing fancy really, just stable and reliable and lots of backup parts.

Answer 6

unless you are working freelance, they should provide you with a workstation to do your work or atleast pay you for using your personal system for office work.
if they are not doing that then they are just using you.
on a more lighter note, instead of coming up with 20 reasons to buy a system come to work without the laptop for some days and they would know the need :p or load a virus in ur system and unleash on their network :p...that way they would know how harmful it is to let people bring their personal computers to work.

Answer 7

To my knowledge, there are no laws governing what you are asking.

If it is part of your job description to provide your own computer then that is part of your job. What you CAN do is write it off on your taxes... consult a tax accountant for how to do this.

As far as ownership of the data is concerned, that is a somewhat grey area. Since you own the equipment, they have no right to any information contained therein, UNLESS you signed an intellectual property agreement with them, or if an intellectual property agreement is implied in the employee handbook, and you signed an acknowledgement to that at time of hire, or at time of ammendment.

Now, if THEY own the computer, they can dictate the appropriate usage, they will own the data, and will have a much stronger legal claim on anything to do with it.