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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Original poster

StrongerSingle · 18/09/2020 11:51

@IntermittentParps

StrongerSingle, so go to her anyway and say that you'll be speaking to/have spoken to ACAS too. Maybe even invoke a lawyer who you may or may not have been in touch with already.

I have contacted ACAS before with issues in this role. The daughter is a 35 yr old woman who throws tantrums ... I know, it is a rare sight to witness .. and the parents turn away and say nothing.

The last time this happened I spoke to the bosses (parents of said tantrum-thrower) and said I had been in touch with ACAS and that her behaviour was clearly defined as workplace bullying. For the first time ever, I think she was spoken to and believe the only thing that has convinced her to change her behaviour is that all interactions now take place on video calls and she is afraid we are recording her.

OP posts:

Original poster

StrongerSingle · 18/09/2020 11:53

Update - I went back to managers yesterday and said I wasn't happy with their software on my laptop, and the daughter said in her stroppy tone, that I would have to complete paper timesheets then, broken down into 15 min intervals which would be inconvenient. I said "fine with me".

On a positive note - I have a week off now and will be staying on the north coast of Scotland, miles from all this hassle :)

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 18/09/2020 11:56

I would have to complete paper timesheets then, broken down into 15 min intervals which would be inconvenient

God she’s going to make it as difficult as possible. I’d point out how long this takes and that it reduces the time available to do the job. Sweetly.

Upstartcrones · 18/09/2020 12:00

Your employers clearly have no clue whatsoever about technology. They sound like a ticking timebomb on the liability front.

I think your plan to look for a new job is the best idea. You don't want to be in firing line when this all goes to the wall.

DGRossetti · 18/09/2020 12:04

Now she will have to read them too. Although I'm going to take a wild stab that she won't. Until it bites her on the arse.

updownroundandround · 18/09/2020 12:16

Nope, no way, no how !

You have a right to privacy, and they have NO right to insist on installing anything on your PERSONAL computer.

If they want to use this software, then they have to supply you with a work computer.

iMatter · 18/09/2020 12:21

What a bunch of idiots

Paper timesheets??

What would happen if your lap top broke/was stolen etc?

Putting aside the timesheet issue surely they must provide you with a work lap top?

Original poster

StrongerSingle · 18/09/2020 13:00

@iMatter

What a bunch of idiots

Paper timesheets??

What would happen if your lap top broke/was stolen etc?

Putting aside the timesheet issue surely they must provide you with a work lap top?

TBH iMatter .. their computers are older than my teenagers. Even though I could demand they provide hardware, my own laptop is faster and I can work better on this.

I can put-up until I find the right new job.

OP posts:

IntermittentParps · 18/09/2020 14:04

I'd call ACAS and ask about the timesheet thing as well as the software thing. It sounds like mention of ACAS scared this individual before, so it's worth trying again!

On a serious note though, they are a car crash waiting to happen in terms of client confidentiality and data-handling.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 18/09/2020 14:09

Why can’t they just create timesheets in Excel? They should like a daft lot.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 18/09/2020 14:09

*sound

Sparklfairy · 18/09/2020 14:12

She doesn't seem to have thought this through... if you're filling out paper timesheets yourself you could just make them up anyway... which defeats the object. Presumably the 'time tracking software' was mostly a way to keep an eye on you, rather than just relying on your word that you were putting the hours in from home. Now they've come full circle with the paper timesheets and relying on your word anyway

DGRossetti · 18/09/2020 14:15

Sounds like they could do worse than bung me £500/day for a couple of days for some grown up consultancy

MJMG2015 · 18/09/2020 14:23

Good Luck with the job hunting!!

I'd love to see Tantum's face when you resign😂

2bazookas · 18/09/2020 15:07

You reply

In reference to your message , I confirm this is my private computer, not company property. As it contains my own confidential matters I am very careful about security protection. Please accept my assurance that nobody else has access to it."

1Blue1 · 18/09/2020 17:59

Make sure you add ‘completing timesheet’ and ‘waiting for computer to load’ on to your timesheet!

Rachand23 · 18/09/2020 18:08

Say your laptop has just died, they will now need to replace it.

roxanne119 · 18/09/2020 18:18

Hell to the no if they want to install that then they need to supply equipment to instal it in to . Not your own stuff how rude is that 😂😂😳no no nope

AHobbyaweek · 18/09/2020 18:19

In the last 15 minute slot of each day, write "filling in timesheets"

Loreleigh · 18/09/2020 18:26

Point blank refuse as this is taking the piss as well as being an invasion of privacy for your personal equipment. If they wish to install 'spyware' then they need to give you a work laptop, camera, printer, microphone, headset, mouse, stylus and anything else you need. If they don't trust you to work your hours it says more about them than you. You could also say you will not allow any third party monitoring equipment on your personal laptop and/or phone line as it may compromise your personal security and that of your family - what if it was hacked - you do not want an idiot with a grudge in the office being able to potentially not only see what hours you work, but also what you are working on, maybe even accessing a camera to spy on you! (If your laptop has an in-built camera and you don't know how to ensure it can't be accessed from elsewhere, cover it). Absolutely NOT. They either supply everything you need to do your job, safely, or they can go F**k themselves! Tell them if they do not wish to give you the equipment they are welcome to add a few grand to your next wages payment and you'll spend a few hours (of work time) researching and ordering what you need, at their expense. Good luck, they sound like morons that just want to spy on you (personally I'd be highly suspicious that their motives were even of a 'professional' nature at all - could there by underlying personal 'nosy factor' stuff going on? Have you ever refused advances, date invites, party invites etc - ever complained about inappropriate behaviour or made it known you were unhappy about something? Keep your guard up and your resolution strong, do not allow them to bully you into accepting unreasonable demands. Just keep doing your job well. If they try to force you back into the office you could always develop 'possible Coronavirus symptoms' ;) Good luck

Deez65 · 18/09/2020 18:30

Outrageous and agree with others that they supply all the hardware necessary to go with Your electricity and your phone use too.

helpIhateclothesshopping · 18/09/2020 18:42

My husband works in IT security and he said he wouldn't agree to it. Definitely ask them to provide the laptop if they want the software on it.

cherish123 · 18/09/2020 18:51

I would say:

I'm happy for you to install the software but it would need to be on a company computer.

If they make a fuss - explain that your family use it and you use it for personal purposes. You could also go down the covid/quarantine route.

Localocal · 18/09/2020 18:53

Is this some sort of software that monitors what you are doing? Or is it just a punch clock app where you clock in when you start working and clock out when you stop? If it's the latter I would think it's fine. I got the OnTheClock app when I went part time so I could log and evidence my hours and my boss could log in and track how many hours I was working. It was not at all intrusive - I was actively putting in all the data she could see.

But if it's something that is electronically logging what you're doing automatically, then absolutely no way. That would be a gross invasion of privacy.

RenoSusan · 18/09/2020 19:00

Even if they decline, advise them that they need to pay for your wifi.

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