Fucking hell, I have smashed my work laptop - not for the first time!

[lecce]

I am absolutely dreading going back tomorrow as my school laptop met with a terrible accident last week and the screen is totally smashed. I was not doing anything totally stupid with it, wasn't drunk or anything, but it was my fault and I should have been more careful. What makes it worse is that this has happened before, about 18 months ago (though on that occasion I genuinely have no idea what happened - didn't drop it but it must have had some kind of knock) .

What do I say and to whom? Really can't stand the obnoxious ICT guy who will make me feel a total eejit (deservedly in this case, but he does it each time you ever have to ask him anything and is a total git. He will enjoy this ). But going straight to the head is terrifying, though he is basically a decent chap - but he is the head.

I am prepared to be expected to pay this time but I really hope they will let me do so in installments or it will really mess us up financially as we are in the process of moving.

Bollocks, going back is bad enough but this hanging over me is making it so much worse- though I know it is my own fault.

[zumo]

Accidents happen, realistically what can they do???

[CabbageLeaves]

I've never broken a lap top... Two in a short space of time seems 'unlucky'

If you were my staff I would expect you to come straight to me tbh. If you apologised and explained and offered to pay I'd refuse the offer but appreciate it. More than anything I'd feel upset at the thought of you being careless with school property. I'd want an explanation because tbh lap tops don't just break

[CabbageLeaves]

If I felt reassured it was just bad luck I'd smooth your path with IT...

[IDontDoIroning]

If you have school equipment in your care you should look after it as if it was your own,

Most schools equipment isn't insured for damage like this and will either have to pay for repair or replace, that's money out of the budget that could be spent on something else.

Of course you should pay especially if this is the second time.
I'm sure you will be much more careful in future.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

What a helpful post, I think the OP covered all your points already.
OP, it's a bad start to the new year but shit happens sometimes and paying by installments seems reasonable to request.
I'd avoid taking school stuff home in the future if you can though, your gremlins really seem to hate it.

[IDontDoIroning]

Actually I'm a school governor and have seen many examples of blase treatment of school equipment. Ie leaving laptops in cars, water damage drppping etc. I'm well aware accidents happen but I'm sure people would take more care if they knew they had to contribute to repairs.

I'm also having to consider staff redundancies (ta at the moment) due to budget issues. So actually I would prefer people to keep their jobs and for staff to take more care of expensive equipment, especially repeat offenders.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

OP doesn't dispute any of your points, she is accepting responsibility and is willing to pay. It seems to be the scorn and smugness of her colleagues that she isn't looking forward to.
A different insurance policy would be useful, other firms and organisations have cover for company items outside the workplace.

[CabbageLeaves]

Nebulous agree that OP is accepting responsibility and if I were her boss this would mean I viewed it very differently to an attitude of it's insured/accidents happen/not my fault

[CabbageLeaves]

Oh btw we cannot insure our work equipment. Insurers will not accept the risk (it would appear more accidents happen to equipment not belonging to someone)

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Just take it to a repair shop and get the screen fixed. Some can do them while you wait. Mine cost about £80 when I did it.

[theITgirl]

Can't the screen be replaced?
Those are about £50-£60 from ebuyer. We do it all the time for staff laptops.
In fact we keep all broken laptops and use them for spare parts.
If you plug the laptop into another monitor (VGA) you will be able to see if the actual laptop is OK.

I am NOT looking forward till tomorrow, when we will get a number of staff coming in with requests like these. However I did build a couple of spares at the end of last term, just for this situation. BTW the spares are the old slow laptops that nobody wants.

Those talking about insurance - do you have any idea how much that is?
Over three years it is at least half the price of a replacement. So it is only worth it if out of 10 laptops at least 6 break. You have the standard warrenty as well.

OP - you are not at our school, as we are nice and mostly female!

[marquesas]

I've also been a school gov in the past and agree with Idont, it is hard to manage a school budget and however sorry the OP is unless she pays herself it could have a knock on effect however indirectly to someone else's employment.

Insurance to cover all school laptops for accidental damage would be prohibatively expense and I'd be surprised if many/any schools could afford it.

If it was me I'd apologise to HT and ask if it would be OK for me to get quotes to repair the damage to compare with the cost for the school doing it. If you're not working today could you get an idea of the cost before you have to fess up?

[lecce]

Thank you very much for all the replies and advice.

After speaking to my Hod, I told the ICT guys what had happened and they were great - I feel really mean about my comments above now . It is only the screen that is broken and a replacement costs £35 (so think we can safely say no jobs are at risk ). I offered to pay but his reply was, "don't be silly."

I can't really do my job without bringing it home unless I accept that I only see the dc at weekends, but I will be even more careful than before and avoid stairs!