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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Going on mumsnet on my work computer

25 replies

frugalnecessity · 31/01/2023 16:14

Personal laptop is broken (new one coming tomorrow) and I'm not a fan of the app. Would I be unreasonable to use my work computer in the evening to look at mumsnet? Is this something I could get in trouble for? I work for a LA

OP posts:

maddy68 · 31/01/2023 16:16

It depends on your usage policy

TightFistedWozerk · 31/01/2023 16:17

I am sure your staff handbook would cover this; you might find an online version on your intranet?

OoooohMatron · 31/01/2023 16:17

I'd just use my phone

ShiverOfSharks · 31/01/2023 16:18

It depends on IT policy. Many organisations really aren't bothered if you look at benign stuff on a work computer out of work time. Others are. I prefer to play it safe even out of hours; I'd book a cinema ticket on a work computer but I wouldn't browse social media.

It goes without saying you shouldn't look at any porn at any time. Except anyone who's worked in IT at any scale knows it does, in fact, need to be said.

maddy68 · 31/01/2023 16:18

I never use mums et on my pc. I only ever use the app on my phone

Rogue1001MNer · 31/01/2023 16:19

I wouldn't personally.

My work don't know I'm a mner, and I don't want them to. It's a private thing. So I wouldn't risk blurring those hard boundary lines.
Can't you look at mn via the website on your phone?

Or have a night off?
Sorry, ignore the ridiculous second suggestion 🤣

SalviaOfficinalis · 31/01/2023 16:19

You can use the website on your phone, you don’t have to use the app…

ErrolTheDragon · 31/01/2023 16:20

You can use a browser on a tablet or phone if you don't like the app.

TightFistedWozerk · 31/01/2023 16:21

No need to use the app, the mobile site is ace. Log out of the app. Google Mumsnet active and log in on your device.

Original poster

frugalnecessity · 31/01/2023 16:27

Omg the browser on my phone, why hadn't I thought of that?! Thanks everyone :)

@Rogue1001MNer I'm glad you recognise how absurd your second suggestion is haha!

OP posts:

Malariahilaria · 31/01/2023 16:46

Yeah I wouldn't. You think of your work laptop as yours but it's theirs. Everything you do on it they can look into and if there's ever an issue they can use e.g your search history as evidence of misuse if they fancy sacking you.

girlfriend44 · 31/01/2023 16:54

Have a day off.

AllOutofEverything · 31/01/2023 17:06

It depends so much on the company. I have worked places where only they really did not give a shit what you looked at on the computer on your own time. And others where only a quick cinema ticket booking would be okay.

LondonQueen · 31/01/2023 17:09

I wouldn't personally, everything you do is logged and you never really know who has access to it, more people than you may think.
You can check your work handbook or IT policy if you're "allowed" to use it for personal use. I'm a teacher and it says light personal use is acceptable, however many organisations are stricter and maintain that they should only be used for work purposes.

IglesiasPiggl · 31/01/2023 17:18

I use my work computer for personal stuff outside work time all the time, but it's allowed at my company. Nobody checks as such, but if I did want to look at something very personal or private, I would use my phone.

Cocobutt · 31/01/2023 17:21

I always use my phone as it’s much easier.

I personally wouldn’t use my work computer for anything that I’d be worried they can check.

eBay or clothes shopping - fine.

MN talking about your shit boss, penis beakers or how you shave your pubic hair - too risky.

😁

AllOutofEverything · 31/01/2023 17:22

I use my home router. My company do not give a shit but the only thing they could check without physically having the computer is what I save on the server.

AllOutofEverything · 31/01/2023 17:23

Although I did once try to post on mumsnet at the office and found the IIP address was instantly blocked. I did wonder which of my colleagues was the troll.

Unescorted · 31/01/2023 17:23

I don't like the app on my phone so I deleted it and use the web browser version on my phone.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 31/01/2023 17:30

It's one night. Use your phone or have an evening off.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 31/01/2023 17:36

I work in Data Protection for a LA and we get a monthly report of all non work sites that colleagues have accessed to scan through and approve / decline future usage / check in with line managers for excessive usage.

2023forme · 31/01/2023 17:43

AllOutofEverything · 31/01/2023 17:22

I use my home router. My company do not give a shit but the only thing they could check without physically having the computer is what I save on the server.

I was going to ask about this - how would your work know which sites you were looking at?

If you were logging onto the internet via your home router, can your work still know what sites you visit?

Neededanewuserhandle · 31/01/2023 17:50

2023forme · 31/01/2023 17:43

I was going to ask about this - how would your work know which sites you were looking at?

If you were logging onto the internet via your home router, can your work still know what sites you visit?

Show quote history

Depends how the work computer connects - some places I have worked require a VPN connection to work's servers in order to log in - that then routes all traffic via the work VPN and that means anything you access can be recorded. If you can simply connect to the internet via your home router with no further connection/routing, then it's unlikely they are monitoring where you go - but still theoretically possible. I don't access any non-work stuff on work machines so I know there can never be any argument.

2023forme · 31/01/2023 17:54

@Neededanewuserhandle - thanks - that makes sense. We do have a VPN but don’t need to connect to it to log on. Using our work VPN is optional and it slows the laptop down so I don’t tend to use it.

Starseeking · 31/01/2023 17:56

It depends on your workplace.

At my last employer, it was allowed, but purely because the CEO was constantly on FB, Instagram and LinkedIn, so could therefore deny staff the same privilege.

Current workplace, no personal use at all, so I don't. In fact I specifically bought a personal laptop for home use due to this policy.

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