assistive technology at work

[redrose80]

I am leaving my current employer. They purchased me some assistive technology a few years back at a cost of £1000. They are a large public sector organisation with over 3000 employees. I want to keep the technology. I could use it in future jobs and/or if I wanted to start up my own company. My employer has no need of it. There is no one else in the organisation with my disability. Plus it has been set up/adapted specifically for me so couldn't be used by anyone else anyway. It would be useless to my employer. WIBU to ask to keep it, or not mention it when discussing items to return (unless they mention it first)? I don't know if they would take it off my salary if I keep it, which just seems silly as they really have no need for it. I just worry that this won't be looked upon in a good way and it could be theft or something. What does everyone think? Is it worth asking or would I be rude to ask?

[flowery]

Well it would only be theft if you take it without permission which presumably you wouldn’t do.

Just ask! They’ll probably say yes, they may not. But there’s no reason not to ask the question.

[HardAsSnails]

Definitely worth asking, I was allowed to take my specialist chair when I left my last job.

[CoRhona]

I've just been given assistive technology but afaik (and am concerned) they are definitely mine, they've been linked to my stuff so wouldn't be of any use at all to anyone else.

[Lemonsyellow]

No harm in asking. But if your employer paid for it it is theirs. Can you offer to buy it?

[ClaudiaWankleman]

Given its nature, it should probably have been expensed at the time of purchase, but you should mention as it may be that it is an actual asset that they have recorded - someone could come around next year and expect to find it on the register!

I would expect them to be quite lenient with regards to letting you have it, especially if it isn't able to be re-adapted to another employee. On the other hand, it isn't their responsibility to help set you up for your own business unfortunately.

[redrose80]

I'm allowed to keep it, which is good :)

[daisychain01]

Im surprised that it was possible to let you keep it, but anyway.

I have a lot of experience of these accessibility needs software packages (in public sector) eg Dragon/Read&Write Gold, Zoomtext Dolphin, JAWS - the software license is normally pinned to an asset Eg a specific laptop or desktop computer.

If I were you, I'd check the basis of them letting you "keep" the software, are they giving you an installation disk, otherwise how will you be able to install it onto your personal equipment and comply with the licensing requirements of the vendor (or is it already on your home PC due to working remotely / wfh)? Just make sure you've covered this off as you become liable for any licensing breach.

[redrose80]

I've checked with the supplier of the physical assistive tech and they say it will work on any computer (it doesn't need software).

I do already have ZoomText and Jaws software on my home laptop anyway as I have several disabilities.

[sausagepastapot]

Access to Work would have funded or part funded the equipment and that budget would have been assigned to you and you alone, so yes they have done the right thing in letting you keep it. It's not your ex employers possession either, if they used your access to work grant to pay for it.

Anyway glad you are (rightfully) keeping it.

[CoRhona]

@sausagepastapot good to know, A2W funded mine. I shall keep your post in case it is ever queried

[purpledagger]

Depending on the size of your organisation, Access to work may not actually offer any funding. In a previous organisation I worked in, A2W expected our company to fund the first £1500 of adjustments because of the size of our organisation.

[purpledagger]

..... to add

Although in this case A2W completed the assessment, the company paid for the equipment. The employee wouldn't necessarily know this.

There is no harm is asking an employer if you can keep equipment, but be aware that A2w may not have paid for it.

[daisychain01]

That's exactly the point @purpledagger the OP needs to get confirmation from former employer so they can be clear in the future where the ownership of those licenses resides. Trying to find that stuff out later on is a nightmare!