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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse use of personal mobile for work

211 replies

Petal12 · 08/04/2022 16:25

Hi all, work are intending on introducing multi factor authentication soon. To enter our system we will now need to verify this by authorising on an app we have been told is to be installed on our personal mobile phones. I used to believe in give and take but the last few years have shown the feeling is not mutual and you are simply a number to be used for as long as useful. I like to think I’m not a petty person but can’t get past this. My main bug bear is that I’ve not been asked, just told! Few other points so as not to drip feed

  • Not allowed to log personal devices into the
work WiFi. Why should I use my paid for data to facilitate this? No matter how little it may use. If they do allow me to use the work WiFi, does that mean the internet policy applies when using my phone in breaks i.e I can’t use any number of sites they deem inappropriate?
  • My iphone is quite old and has storage issues every week. I would have to delete other apps that I actually use to allow this google authenticator to download.
  • It’s another point of them being cheap and cutting corners.
  • What if I lose/break my phone?
I’m sure there’s probably security issues that I’ve likely not thought of as well. AIBU?
OP posts:
littledrummergirl · 09/04/2022 02:25

Yanbu.
An employer is paying for your time. If they want you to use equipment then they should provide it.
Otherwise you should be able to claim any expenses back.

I would love to know what would happen in an employment tribunal if you were on minimum wage but then had to deduct expenses from this. Could that put an employer in breach of minimum wage laws?

Calandor · 09/04/2022 03:43

Yeah it does my head in too. So I log into work emails on Safari every time. I don't allow monitoring. It's not like I take buses or anything but I'd like the choice.

I'd ask if they're willing to provide a work mobile. If they want control it shouldn't be over your personal phone. Mine refused this so I warned them I wouldn't be available outside work hours.

FredtheCatsMum · 09/04/2022 03:43

I have just rolled this out at my job (I'm Director of Technology). Most people used their own phones. Those who wouldn't/ couldn't were give a small device which generates a code. They cost about £15, so worth it.

Some people had good reasons, and I respect that. Others were just being arsy, but frankly life's to short, and getting mfa out there too important to worry about that for £15. Using, and keeping, one is more of a nuisance than using your phone for most people.

Just got everyone who wanted one a token and got on with it. No way would I provide a phone for this reason tho. Far too expensive and open to abuse.

Ponderingwindow · 09/04/2022 04:25

We were given multiple options and are ideally supposed to have at least 2 methods available. I’m fine with my personal mobile being the emergency backup, but I wouldn’t want to use it as my regular log in device. I even have unlimited data and a top of the line smartphone and I still don’t want it to be my first method. I work hard to keep my personal mobile as isolated from work as possible because it’s better for work-life balance. Most coworkers respect that.

I have a device I insert in my computer. The phone is just if that is lost or broken and just temporary while they get me a replacement and I know they keep extras in stock.

Calandor · 09/04/2022 04:35

@FredtheCatsMum

I have just rolled this out at my job (I'm Director of Technology). Most people used their own phones. Those who wouldn't/ couldn't were give a small device which generates a code. They cost about £15, so worth it.

Some people had good reasons, and I respect that. Others were just being arsy, but frankly life's to short, and getting mfa out there too important to worry about that for £15. Using, and keeping, one is more of a nuisance than using your phone for most people.

Just got everyone who wanted one a token and got on with it. No way would I provide a phone for this reason tho. Far too expensive and open to abuse.

It's wrong! I don't want work to have access to monitor my texts, photos or even buses (not that I do those). It's a breach of privacy and can fuck off.

Seriously who are you to have access to my private life? Provide work phones if you want that or pay me an extra £10k a year.

Good god.

Calandor · 09/04/2022 04:36

Nudes* not buses

Calandor · 09/04/2022 04:39

@FredtheCatsMum and honestly how dare you. We are employees. Not slaves.

Longdistance · 09/04/2022 04:44

Yanbu.
My work somehow thinks it’s acceptable for me to login to work emails from my own phone. I refuse to as I don’t want to respond to emails using my personal phone. If they want me to do that, they can give me a work mobile, which will never happen.

ThinWomansBrain · 09/04/2022 05:09

Have used my own phone for MFA in the past, and in my current role for calls. Would rather that than the faff of carrying and remembering to charge two phones TBH. Actually the first role with the MFA I had a work iPhone.
But had a heated discussion with a trustee recently who thought it was acceptable to insist that all staff use their own phones. Errr- client facing staff running help and advice lines, befriending and dementia services - not bloody likely - twat.

Agree that there should be some reciprocity - not allowing you to use work wifi seems petty, unless there are security issues.

ThinWomansBrain · 09/04/2022 05:13

@Calandor

Nudes* not buses
I was confused by the buses Grin You clearly have a very proper prudish autocorrect
FredtheCatsMum · 09/04/2022 05:20

@Calandor Noone can read your texts if you use your phone for MFA. You're a slave to your ignorance, as well as rude. If you worked in my organisation I would have explained how it works, and offered you a separate device if you still didn't want to do it. As I said, but no, you tell me to f* off.

So I most certainly wouldn't give you a phone.

Abi86 · 09/04/2022 05:47

"What on earth are these male dominated industries that involve
desk work anyway."

Yes, because all male dominated industries involve men sweating outside. 🤨🙅‍♂️

Penners99 · 09/04/2022 05:49

Tell them you use a Nokia 3310, try getting an ap on that!

Teeturtle · 09/04/2022 06:01

@Abi86

"What on earth are these male dominated industries that involve desk work anyway."

Yes, because all male dominated industries involve men sweating outside. 🤨🙅‍♂️

Do you have any examples of desk based male dominated industries though, as I thought the world had taken strides in many such industries. Although yes, I expect there is still male domination in outside work. It was a genuine question, no need to be snide.
mycatisannoying · 09/04/2022 06:02

You don't work in a school, do you? If so, I feel your pain!

cookiemonster2468 · 09/04/2022 06:09

Well if you want to make a fuss about it you can just say you don't have a smart phone and they'll have to give you one.

Really though, it's not a big deal and I think you are being petty. I have this for work and it's fine.

nordica · 09/04/2022 06:27

It's wrong! I don't want work to have access to monitor my texts, photos or even buses (not that I do those). It's a breach of privacy and can fuck off.

You really don't know what Google Authenticator and similar apps do if you think it can monitor your sexting texting. It can't.

For the less than 20 seconds it takes to use a 2FA app, I really wouldn't have a problem with this. Obviously the storage issue is more of an obstacle but demanding a work phone for this use alone seems OTT.

LucyLocketLostThePlot · 09/04/2022 06:40

@Teeturtle

"Do you have any examples of desk based male dominated industries"

IT

JustRambling · 09/04/2022 06:44

@calandor
"It's wrong! I don't want work to have access to monitor my texts, photos or even buses (not that I do those). It's a breach of privacy and can fuck off.

Seriously who are you to have access to my private life? Provide work phones if you want that or pay me an extra £10k a year.

Good god."

If you send an email to your best friend Jimmy and he replies it doesn't mean that Jimmy has access to everything on your phone.

This app is the same - you go in to the app using your private password - a message goes to your work where a code is automatically generated and returned to you within the app. You now log in to your work computer using this code. Just like Jimmy, work has had no access at all to any of your texts, photos or even "buses".

MintyMoocow · 09/04/2022 06:52

I just get a text with a number on it which I then enter onto my laptop.

I am generally happy to help with online security at work. If the business goes down I have no job.

To refuse use of personal mobile for work
tttigress · 09/04/2022 07:52

I hate this sort of tho, I also like to keep work and home separate.

Also it means you have to have a certain type of mobile phone to have the job.

balalake · 09/04/2022 07:55

Sending a text message means only knowing your phone number, an email could be to an address you have only for that purpose. That would be reasonable as options, but not what is proposed.

Svalberg · 09/04/2022 08:06

@Teeturtle

Abi86

"What on earth are these male dominated industries that involve
desk work anyway."

Yes, because all male dominated industries involve men sweating outside. 🤨‍♂️

Do you have any examples of desk based male dominated industries though, as I thought the world had taken strides in many such industries. Although yes, I expect there is still male domination in outside work. It was a genuine question, no need to be snide

Most engineering jobs, eg design engineering, electronic engineering etc. I work in construction and rarely leave my desk, other than to go to meetings in other people's offices. It's not all hard hats & hi vis!

ImInStealthMode · 09/04/2022 08:07

"Do you have any examples of desk based male dominated industries"

Finance
Law
IT as previously mentioned

ImInStealthMode · 09/04/2022 08:10

Provide work phones if you want that or pay me an extra £10k a year.

@Calandor Your phone costs you £10k a year?!?!? You should probably shop around for a better deal.

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