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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To pay for screen replacement on work laptop?

23 replies

Drummend01 · 12/02/2024 12:13

I’m usually so good at looking after things and I’m really annoyed at myself.

We all have company laptops, Apple Mac Pro, I’ve had mine for 3 years without a scratch but this morning I tripped over the charging wire and it hit the floor. The corner of the screen is cracked and there are lines across the screen. I told my office manager straight away and she said to look into screen replacements from Apple and they are looking to be £400-£600! I don’t have that kind of money spare and I’m really worried they will expect me to pay it.

Ive asked if they have insurance and apple care on the products and she said she doesn’t think so but will check.

I know it’s my fault, I should have been more careful and I hate to think Ive broken company property but I’m really worried they will ask me to pay and I don’t have the money spare.

Should I be expected to pay? Could I ask for the company to pay and then split the cost over the year to deduct from my wages?

OP posts:

ShirleyPhallus · 12/02/2024 12:14

Why would you be expected to pay? It’s a piece of business equipment you were using for work. They will have insurance, it’s absolutely not up to you to pay

Neriah · 12/02/2024 12:17

Also, there shouldn't be any trailing wires in a workplace. That's a hazard that should be managed.

cbbo · 12/02/2024 12:17

I would 100% expect work to pay. If you dropped a stapler at work and it broke, you wouldn't be expected to pay for it, would you?

glusky · 12/02/2024 12:18

No, my work would 100% not expect me to pay. It's one of the company's costs of employing people.

Notalldogs23 · 12/02/2024 12:23

You should not have to pay - I would not be expect to pay for an accident like this, nor would I expect any of my team to pay for an accident or loss.

A colleague of mine mine spilt coffee on her laptop during Covid lockdown and had a replacement couriered to her within a couple of hours.

Can you check with your HR? If there isn't one, tell your boss you believe you shouldn't have to pay for what was an accident.

If the insist you have to pay, you can remind them that you've had a workplace accident, as you tripped at your workstation - had they assessed the suitability of your workspace and provided you with training to work safely from home?

dancingdaisies · 12/02/2024 12:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the poster.

PandaCwtch · 12/02/2024 12:24

As others have said, I'd completely expect work to pay. Are you working from home or in the office. If you are in the office, I'd expect someone to do something about wires that can be tripped on. The cost of a screen is nothing in comparison to an injury claim. Where I work, I'd need to submit that as a 'near miss'.

Zippedydoodahday · 12/02/2024 12:25

Wouldn't even occur to me to pay for it. It's their problem.

Original poster

Drummend01 · 12/02/2024 12:28

Thanks everyone, it’s a relief that everyone agrees it shouldn’t be my paying.

I work from home on Monday so it was this morning at my house. She said to go see her tomorrow when I’m in the office so she can see the damage, she hasn’t actually said I would need to pay all hopefully I’m just worrying over nothing. I was thrown when she asked about looking at appointment options to get it fixed but maybe she’s just asking me to get prepared to drop it in somewhere and I’d expense the cost or something.

I’ll know more tomorrow so hopefully I’m stressing for no reason

OP posts:

BobbyBiscuits · 12/02/2024 12:36

They demand you use their Mac, it accidentally gets damaged, they pay for a new one as it belongs to them and they need you to use it for work.
The fact the office manager was even telling you the cost seems unprofessional. It's their computer, they have insurance or whatever and if they don't then they replace it. I dropped a drink into a switchboard once, totally breaking it, in my second ever job. I was terrified they'd make me pay but of course they didn't. They need that piece of equipment and it was damaged in the normal course of work.

KreedKafer · 12/02/2024 12:42

Of course you shouldn't have to pay! Accidents happen with office equipment, that's just how it is. If your employer doesn't have any agreement/contract in place with a supplier for repairs, that's their problem and not yours.

Also, even if they tell you to pay for it and then charge it afterwards on expenses, they should absolutely not be expecting anyone to have £400-600 available for out-of-pocket expenses. Out of pocket expenses are for things like a taxi ride or a meal when you're on a business trip, not a £400 IT repair.

DP dropped his work phone a few months ago and cracked the screen and they just replaced it without even asking any questions.

FinallyHere · 12/02/2024 12:57

Absolutely no reason for you to pay, you can definitely relax on that score. Very few large organisations who have 'many, many laptops take out the 'AppleCare ' type of products. The cost over many products is always much less just to replace/repair them as necessary.

Don't stress about having to pay out snd more than you have to pay their electricity bill.

GladAllOver · 12/02/2024 13:11

Of course you shouldn't have to pay, but I'd expect your manager to tell you not to leave cables hanging as a trip hazard.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 12/02/2024 13:14

Where i work we get 2 replacement laptops but if we break any more we have to refund the company.
Hopefully your place is similar.

Dragonsandcats · 12/02/2024 13:16

you shouldn’t have to pay, they should have insurance.

DRS1970 · 12/02/2024 13:38

I don't think they would expect you to pay for accidental damage to work equipment. But should it come to that there are places other than Apple that would probably do the repair cheaper.

ntmdino · 12/02/2024 13:38

After three years, it's practically written off anyway - the company have already had all the value they needed out of it.

If a company's that hard up that they need to charge their employees for computer repairs, you should probably take that as a sign that you need to start surfing the job boards...

YouveGotAFastCar · 12/02/2024 13:42

If it's three years old, it's really likely the Apple shop will tell you that it's not economical to repair, and you need a new one. You may be able to trade this one in for some money against the new ones, if it's otherwise in good condition - but that'd need to be someone with authority. If it's registered to an employer, you'll need them to consent to Apple first.

Was the wire on the floor at work? That's a hazard, and means it's more their fault.

CJ4713 · 12/02/2024 13:54

This happened to me last year! I pulled my chair out and the laptop slid off the desk onto the floor (I blame the dog for tangling to cords!). The screen was fine, but the hinge was broken and it didn't close.

IT said I needed to find my cost centre, I informed my boss and a new one was couriered out 2 days later. I was very apologetic and when I spoke to IT- they said they sent replacements ALL the time. People leaving their laptop in pubs, dropping it in swimming pools and all manner of bizarre excuses!

No way should you be paying for an accident.

AllEars112232 · 12/02/2024 14:00

Agree you should not have to pay. And it is three years. Most companies will write off a lap top that old as it has depreciated so much its worth very little. Definitely not worth repairing!!
But if they want to repair it then they should pay.

askmenothing · 12/02/2024 14:06

Just to say, I agree with everyone else.

I spilt coke on one work laptop, they gave me a replacement and within a week I dropped the new one and damaged the screen.

They didn't even bat an eyelid, third one has lasted almost a year so I'm pleased about that!

Catza · 12/02/2024 14:12

YouveGotAFastCar · 12/02/2024 13:42

Was the wire on the floor at work? That's a hazard, and means it's more their fault.

And they will be wrong.
This doesn't pertain to the current situation with OP but I had the same issue with my 2015 Macbook Pro. Got a new screen online (just over £200), paid local guy £100 to fit it and I am hoping to get another 10 years out of my machine as it still runs as good as new.
A new comparable laptop, on the other hand, would set me back at lest 2.5k

redalex261 · 12/02/2024 14:20

Definitely employer’s responsibility. If you broke your own laptop at home you could claim on your home insurance. If you tried to claim for this damage your insurer would tell you it’s up to the employer. As already said upthread if they attempt to suggest you pay they are in financial difficulty and you need to jump ship pronto. (still not pay!) Also, they chose to issue staff with the most expensive equipment available - how many job roles genuinely use even 50% of a Mac pro’s functionality? Not many.

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