Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

To refuse this request from employer

148 replies

StrongerSingle · 17/09/2020 11:51

Not posted for aaages ... but needed some perspective and advice on this.

I have the most awful employers and quite honestly, am very happy working from home so that I do not have to see them. For the record, my job entails dealing with financial reporting (mainly Excel) and all the company files are in the cloud so accessible from anywhere.

At the beginning of lockdown, they were their usual unorganised muppets and we all started working from home without any IT equipment being supplied. I have a decent laptop and large monitor of my own so just carried on working using my equipment. They have never offered to supply anything .. just assuming we will all use our own stuff.

Today I get a message saying they want to install time-logging software on MY laptop to see what I am doing. I must admit I haven't seen it yet and do not know what info it will be sending them ... but AIBU to say no?

OP posts:

ToastyCrumpet · 17/09/2020 12:32

Given the nature of your work I’m surprised you are allowed to work on your own laptop. How do they know it’s secure?

VimFuego101 · 17/09/2020 12:39

@ToastyCrumpet

Given the nature of your work I’m surprised you are allowed to work on your own laptop. How do they know it’s secure?

I agree, and I'd use this as a reason why they should give you a company issued laptop to ensure company information is kept secure.

Nottherealslimshady · 17/09/2020 12:41

We employ someone from home, we provided the laptop with login software and home office set up.

Trixie18 · 17/09/2020 12:42

Remember to ask them for their policy which covers what information will be accessed, who has access to it and how the information will be used and stored.
Absolutely no monitoring software should go on a personal computer only on a work provided computer but even that doesn't mean they can monitor you as and when they like, you are still entitled to privacy even on company equipment unless the company have made you aware of the above in writing and you're happy to agree to that. Let us know how you get on, good luck!

tanstaafl · 17/09/2020 12:43

We have this on work supplied laptops.
We receive (email) an automated weekly report showing how ‘busy’ the laptop has been.

If you start Excel first thing, close it when you sign off but the rest of the time surf the internet on your personal laptop, will you be recorded as busy 100% of the time?

IntermittentParps · 17/09/2020 12:44

Before you even get into a discussion about whose laptop, mail your manager – and copy in HR – asking for a copy/clarification of the policy around accessing, using and storing information.

Windinmyhair · 17/09/2020 12:48

Is this just for you or for everyone? Is there a problem with your performance?

I would never allow them to install on my home laptop. I'd also find it very very off for them to do it on my work laptop. If there are issues with my performance I'd want to know, but to be stalked like that implies that there are systemic poor management issues that need to be addressed in other ways.

rainkeepsfallingdown · 17/09/2020 12:49

I have always refused to install anyone else's software on my personal laptop or mobile. They can install whatever they like on equipment they provide.

Yes, I could get by with one phone and one laptop. However, apart from keeping my personal data safe and secure, I can also turn off my work equipment when I'm not working - and draw a better line between work and play. Work/life balance is really hard to achieve when working at home as it is.

SisyphusDad · 17/09/2020 12:50

Given that you're working with Excel (presumably large spreadsheets), I'd expect them to provide you with two decent sized monitors plus the docking station to allow the laptop to connect.

yelyah22 · 17/09/2020 12:50

Definitely refuse, it's your personal laptop and you don't need to allow them access to it, plus you can't verify how secure your personal data is on there. However, they may ask you to come back into the office rather than supply you with a laptop - I'd be prepared for that!

TenDays · 17/09/2020 12:53

My IT manager DH is sitting beside me (also WFH) and he says no, they can't make you install anything on your own computer. This is because these apps collect personal data on top of what the company requires. It is an invasion of privacy.

This is why people are refusing to install the Covid app.

You need to read up about GDPR and privacy laws.

DH also adds that this message might not even be your company and could be a hacking attempt. Be careful!

Viviennemary · 17/09/2020 12:55

No. They need to supply you with a laptop.

Disfordarkchocolate · 17/09/2020 12:56

Definitely only if they supply a laptop. In fact as your working on figures you need to think about eye strain and DSE regs and ask for a proper set up with a decent sized monitor and an adjustable chair.

Durgasarrow · 17/09/2020 12:56

I agree--the software comes with the hardware.

JetBlackSteed · 17/09/2020 12:57

@StrongerSingle

Thanks everyone - looks like my knee-jerk reaction was right :)

I will be speaking to the management later and will say that if they supply the laptop, they can install what they want, but they are not installing this on my laptop.

Even if they supply the laptop, the Monitoring at Work Regulations apply. Assuming you're in the UK. A policy needs to be in place describing exactly what is being monitored and why, as a minimum. And this needs disseminated to all employees before any software is installed. In practice and with lawful compliance it's tricky to meet the criteria to do this kind of monitoring.

FluffyPersian · 17/09/2020 12:58

Absolutely not.

What's their patching policy? their Information Security policy? Their Vulnerability management policy? Does their Acceptable Use policy cover personal laptops? what happens if you're running Windows 7 and don't have any anti virus on your personal laptop and your device is compromised and it ends up sending a malicious link / trojan to everyone in your email contact list? Whose fault is it? (Not suggesting you'd be running an end of life OS or would ever click on anything dodgy, but it does happen.....)

I made the mistake of allowing MobileIron on my personal mobile a few years ago - it was an utter nightmare. Not only did you have to agree that an administrator could remotely WIPE your device, but when you tried to uninstall it, it wasn't a simple process - you had to root around in random folders to delete this, that and the other and your phone kept giving you 'alerts' saying it wasn't compliant - utterly frustrating and not something I'd ever do again.

What information / data would this 'logging' software capture? What read / write capability would it have? What happens if it corrupts something on your laptop? whose fault would that be?

Far too many things could go wrong and quite frankly, if they want to control you to that degree, they can pay for a laptop for you......

Moondust001 · 17/09/2020 12:59

@BrightYellowDaffodil

YANBU. There is no way I would allow a third party - employer or otherwise - to install software on any device of mine.

And I wouldn't be happy about time logging software generally.

You might not be happy, but if it's their equipment they can put it on. They aren't making a secret of it.

Of course, if the OP then wants to attempt to object then they could find that they both have the software AND they will be returned to the office to work with the "muppets". If one is that unhappy with ones employer, then the answer is obvious. Find another one.

Upstartcrones · 17/09/2020 13:00

If they want to do this then they don't necessarily need to provide you with a laptop but a virtual desktop. They then install the software onto the VD and it will track your logs when you sign on.

But no they cannot insist you do this on your personal IT equipment. BYOD normally operates on the VD principle to get round this sort of situation and comply with GDPR.

Queenest · 17/09/2020 13:00

CF’s!

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 17/09/2020 13:00

Just tell them it's not your laptop, it's a shared family laptop that you and the children all use and because of this, they can't put the software on there.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 17/09/2020 13:01

You might not be happy, but if it's their equipment they can put it on.

They can, but then I can also - as you suggest - look for employment elsewhere with an employer who trusts their staff and wouldn't dream of logging what people are doing!

RedToothBrush · 17/09/2020 13:01

I would not install anything that monitored what my personal laptop was doing.

Too much of a personal security risk and an invasion of my personal privacy.

I would cavet that I would be happy to use such software on a work supplied laptop. It gives them little space to argument then.

Jaxhog · 17/09/2020 13:02

Ask them if they'd be happy for you to load your software onto their work pc? Thought not!

I hope they're paying towards your broadband bill?

Havaiana · 17/09/2020 13:02

@ToastyCrumpet

Given the nature of your work I’m surprised you are allowed to work on your own laptop. How do they know it’s secure?

Very true. Trying to get into our laptops is like Fort Knox.

Havaiana · 17/09/2020 13:02

@Jaxhog

Ask them if they'd be happy for you to load your software onto their work pc? Thought not!

I hope they're paying towards your broadband bill?

Is this govt mandated?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6