Work are making us sign a disclaimer for laptop

[GoogleJuicer]

As above. We were given laptops in the first lockdown as they upgraded the systems and the piece of crap desktops were replaced. We are now back in the office.

We’ve now received an email asking us to sign a disclaimer telling us what we must do with the laptops.

I’ve heard on the grapevine someone lost it during a night out or whatever.

Won’t go into to much details but is this legal/normal?

Sounds fair to me, why wouldn't they?

No idea on the legality but I dropped my work laptop down a flight of stairs on my first day at work in lockdown one and there was no bother. The only legal issues and things to sign were about not using it to access porn/spend all day on Facebook when you’re meant to be working/run a side business, anything legal, etc etc. Physically destroying it or losing it was fine: those things are out of your control.

I’m more conscious as to why they didn’t do it before?

By sign I mean it’s part of the training.

Sounds normal to me. Dh and I both had to do this with our work laptops.

Yes it’s normal.

It’s not your property.

Sounds normal to have policies around company property

I have to sign an agreement for all work property I have. It's normal as far as I know.

@GoogleJuicer

I’m more conscious as to why they didn’t do it before?

By sign I mean it’s part of the training.

No one here can answer that, you'd have to ask the employer.

@hotmeatymilk

No idea on the legality but I dropped my work laptop down a flight of stairs on my first day at work in lockdown one and there was no bother. The only legal issues and things to sign were about not using it to access porn/spend all day on Facebook when you’re meant to be working/run a side business, anything legal, etc etc. Physically destroying it or losing it was fine: those things are out of your control.

We already have policies for using work equipment. These policies aren’t on the company intranet.

Normal for us and completely understandable too. Sometimes people don't take as good care of things that they haven't paid for.

You mean that you'll be liable for any damage or loss of the laptops? Our company would replace it but if theft would ofc need a police number & reporting.

@GoogleJuicer

I’m more conscious as to why they didn’t do it before?

By sign I mean it’s part of the training.

I'm assuming they didn't ask before as staff were working from home. The lost laptop has probably made them aware that they don't have any protection in place when things like that happen.

Totally normal. It's also part of GDPR; they have to have processes in place to avoid loss of data.

@HumbugWhale

Sounds normal to me. Dh and I both had to do this with our work laptops.

Is it normal for people with work phones ans laptops?

Yes - it's company property that's now going to be moved between home and the office, so of course you need to sign something.

My DS (and us as his parents) had to sign a disclaimer for his school laptop. It was 8 pages long!

@askingforafriend80

Sounds normal to have policies around company property

This. It probably wasn’t formalised before and someone realised they should formalise it. In my workplace genuine accidents are treated as such but they expect you to do your best to take care of it. All very reasonable.

It’s perfectly normal. Acknowledging rules for physical and online security. Things like not leaving it in your vehicle for extended periods, not letting family use the laptop, not installing software (though they should have settings to prevent this).

@GoogleJuicer I don't have a work phone but yes, dh had to do this for his phone too.

"Is it normal for people with work phones ans laptops?"

I had to sign for my laptop, desk phone, scanner, extra monitor, etc.

My child’s school has a similar document that both children and parents must sign every year acknowledging the school laptop rules. They can be extensive, but it’s not like the thousands of lines of terms and conditions that businesses want you to just tick box and give away your rights. These rules really are meant to be clear and understood because it keeps the equipment and the network safe. It means the school day or your work day doesn’t get interrupted. It’s really good practice.

Yup, normal

not actually sure what your problem is?

Completely normal.

It’s a set of rules about what you can and can’t do with their property. It’s fair enough.

Completely normal. I'm assuming you didn't get asked this during the first lockdown as most companies were in a rush to get equipment to people.