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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not take my work laptop on holiday?

143 replies

Justathrowawaycomment · 16/04/2023 22:21

I have a relatively intense job - but - it's NOT a life saving type of job - it's in tech.

It is a US-based firm, and I report into a US-based leader. They don't really 'do' annual leave, as in, they take their PTO (Paid Time Off) but still dial into calls, and and...well, work, basically.

DH, DD and I go on a week's holiday (abroad) tomorrow morning.

My gut tells me to take my work laptop - so I have access to work/files if I need them.

My brain tells me that taking my work mobile (with access to email + Microsoft Teams) is enough.

When I ask myself "what could go wrong?" - it's nothing major, nothing that will cost us money, or be embarrassing for the company, but it might be inconvenient for my leadership team if they want access to something I can't provide from holiday.

I can't really pre-provide them with access to everything they 'might' need as there is a LOT of stuff, and some of it is quite sensitive, especially without context.

So AIBU to not take my (stupidly heavy) work laptop...? I think I just need reassurance that I'm not being unreasonable, more than anything.

OP posts:
Mrscaptainraymondholt · 16/04/2023 22:23

If you are in the Uk you are entitled to paid time off on holiday which does not mean working no matter what others may do…. Don’t take it. Set yourself sensible and needed boundaries

Mrscaptainraymondholt · 16/04/2023 22:23

And if they want you to be on call, they pay for that!

Frabbits · 16/04/2023 22:25

Absolutely do not take your laptop OR your phone.

If your US colleagues are stupid enough to be exploited, let them.

Trollsinmyeggbox · 16/04/2023 22:30

You're either on AL or you're not. Presumably you've not got a contract that has cultural expectations around AL specified.

Go on holiday, minus both phone and laptop. The world will not implode.

Cherry321 · 16/04/2023 22:36

Don’t take your laptop. I work for a Canadian company and they also don’t see to understand the concept of holiday. Stick your out of office on and use the time to switch off and refresh. It’s a slippery slope and you need to be clear that holiday means not working.

FusionChefGeoff · 16/04/2023 22:38

Boundaries OP, boundaries!

Ideally you should have reminded everyone last week that you are on leave and won't be working or contactable so they've got no excuse.

I'd definitely send a quick email now explaining that you're away and when you'll be back but don't take the laptop.

Then next time when you've given them a week's notice, turn off emails and teams too.

Beesandhoney123 · 16/04/2023 22:39

You are on holiday. Don't take your laptop as you'll be tempted to check email and work. Unless your dh chucks it in the pool.

Your kids and dh are more important surely? Yes they will mind. No they won't get over it. Your career won't suffer unless you let it by being unable to switch off. You need two weeks not one off to break this unhealthy obsession which makes you question spending time with your family.

Put your out of office on, delete work apps off your phone, and ensure your work diary is clear for 2 days when you get back for catch up.

Don't apologise for having a work life balance.

MrsCarson · 16/04/2023 22:40

Leave them all behind and enjoy the holiday. Don't get caught in the never away from work trap.
I worked in US and got home from a 3 week holiday unpaid leave to a load of phone messages Mobiles were newish and didn't work worldwide I'd left mine at home anyway.
I called them to see what's up and had to explain multiple times how I was out of the country, no I couldn't answer their calls, no my mobile didn't work in Europe and was at home in US anyway. No I didn't want to come to work right now I had just arrived home from the airport after a 12 hour flight and 3 hour car ride. I'm going to bed. Many US companies think everyone lives to work.

Rubbishonthemotorway · 16/04/2023 22:40

Leave laptop at home

You are entitled by law to have holiday

purplecorkheart · 16/04/2023 22:40

Nope do not take your laptop. Firstly, if you are uk based then you are entitled to your holidays regardless of what happens in the US office. Also it could be a nightmare with unsecure wifi etc in the hotel or if laptop got stolen. You could end up breaching GDPR policy etc.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/04/2023 22:41

This is so alien to me. Where I work, we wouldn’t be allowed to take a work laptop out of the country even if we wanted to!

It’s also discouraged to work when you’re on AL, as everyone knows people need a break, and work better on their return if they’ve had one.

BartsLongLostBro · 16/04/2023 22:41

Can you be clear at the outset with work? Sorry it's hard.

TwoMonthsOff · 16/04/2023 22:42

NO WAY

theGooHasGone · 16/04/2023 22:45

I also work in tech for a US company and have done for a couple of different companies. I know the exact issue you're talking about. I never take my work laptop on holiday with me - when I'm out of office, I'm out of office.

I sometimes log onto Slack from my phone if I have a spare 10 minutes but it's all my choice - not expected, and if anyone ever asked me to I'd give them a (very polite) flea in their ear.

It all comes down to company culture in my experience - if leadership doesn't enforce that people take their time off and actually relax, it doesn't happen. Thankfully there's no issue with that at my current employer. Some US work culture is insane, though - work/life balance is not a priority, and 10 days of PTO a year is seen as normal. Ridiculous.

Pippielk · 16/04/2023 22:50

Also maybe you could say it’s a security risk if your laptop gets stolen if you bring it on holiday. I work in similar situation but my colleagues here in UK and in US - if they are travelling away from home won’t be contactable.

Nanny0gg · 16/04/2023 22:52

Is your contract a UK one even though a US company?

If so, leave it all at home

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 16/04/2023 22:58

Leave the laptop at home, leave the phone at home. Most companies will take the piss if you let them, so don't let them. You're on holiday, so act like you're on holiday.

ArentYouAshamed · 16/04/2023 23:03

My boss phoned me this week and left a voicemail. I'm on AL.

I'm sure I'll find out what he wanted when I go back in next week. Probably. I dunno. Either way, he can speak to me about work when I'm being paid to hear it.

huuskymam · 16/04/2023 23:06

Leave it behind and tell them you won't be contactable for the week. If they would like to contact you, then tell them you'll bring it if they pay an on call allowance for the week.

TheaBrandt · 16/04/2023 23:09

Honestly what is the point? What is the point of a life just spent working?! It’s madness. Particularly if you have a child. I used to work in a hard arse round the clock type City law firm and even they respected staff holidays.

fullofeasterchocolate · 16/04/2023 23:18

My theory is that it comes down to how well paid you are.
DH has basically sold his soul to the devil and part of that is that his laptop comes on holiday with us. However, we are staying in much nicer places and going away more often than we would have been if it hadn't been for his job.
I'm well paid but not to such an extent. However, I am the only person who does my job in the company and so there's no one I can handover or delegate to when I'm away. I take my phone and check my emails each morning before breakfast & again late afternoon. About a dozen colleagues also know to simply call me on my mobile if it's critical. In five years, two colleagues have contacted me on my mobile as it was urgent; one colleague contacts me every single time I'm away for utterly mundane matters so I now just don't take his calls. Even with this system, I rarely spend more than 30 mins working a day. Those 30mins can save colleagues hours of trying to figure something out for themselves and, more importantly, mean they don't come up with the wrong answer and I then have to spend hours dealing with it.

CalloohCallayFrabjousDay · 16/04/2023 23:21

Don't take either! If they want you to be on standby, then they should pay you for it. You're on annual leave, so no work for the period that you're off.

ilovewispas · 16/04/2023 23:29

I'm a Director in the UK for a US consultancy, in IT. It is incomprehensible to some of my colleagues that a holiday is a holiday but I don't take my laptop or look at emails on my phone when on leave.

I put an out of office on that says I'll reply to all queries upon my return but that in an emergency please text me on (insert my personal mobile).

I purposely don't check emails whilst away as there will usually be something that niggles me and distracts me from enjoying time with my kids. If they don't text due to an emergency, then I do nothing.

I've never been text. If they thought I checked my emails, I'd get gradually more and more stupid questions.

Wenfy · 16/04/2023 23:34

US consultants don’t take holiday or work throughout so might as well not. If you have managers or key stakeholders based in the US - absolutely take it. You will piss them off majorly by not. If not then enjoy your holiday

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 16/04/2023 23:36

Leave your laptop and your phone at home and enjoy your holiday.

You would be insane to do anything else.