laptop while on mat leave??

[Baysmum]

Hi Im a teacher and have just started my mat leave. School havent been the best and today have receieved a v narky phone message demanding return of my laptop. Does anyone know if I have to return this for my replacement? I feel a bit annoyed as it took ages for me to actually get issued with the computer and had to use our home pc for ages - don't really want to return it and go through the same process if/when I return to work.

Technically I suppose you have to return it. Make sure you get confirmation of receipt though, and save all your documents etc on a memory stick.

Also ask for written agreement to return of the lap top when you return to work.

The laptop is to be used for work, you are not working, of course you have to return it for your replacement to use.

Yes, you get to keep benefits during maternity leave, but if the laptop was only issued as a tool of the job, they are perfectly within their rights to ask for it back.

Many private employers will leave laptops, blackberrys, etc with people as easy ways to keep in touch and for KIT days, but that probably doesn't apply in schools where resources are short.

Oh well, worth a try! Spose I better give it back and then spend another 6 months trying to get a replacement when I go back. Its funny that I didn't get a laptop for about a year but my replacement needs one straight away!

Presumably your maternity cover can have one straightaway because there is one already there for the job she is doing? No need to wait. Sounds as though with you the delay was the approval/issuing process, and as one has been approved and issued for the job your maternity cover doesn't need to wait.

Er no, the delay was due to my headteacher being totally disorganised and a bit useless and forgetting to order my laptop - nothing to do with approval/issuing just bog standard incompetence. There are other laptops available in school and mine will not work properly for the replacement as it is not connected to shared drives or smartboard but hey ho - as I said, its going back.

I would check before taking it back. Are these opinions of mn or facts?
I thought I read somewhere about company cars, laptops, part of a package and did not need to be returned whilst on mat leave, but not sure?
Worth checking, maybe an organization like Acas might know the facts. If you can keep it then why not!

WeeBit - I'm afraid they're facts - both Flowery and I work in legal/HR.

The rule you are thinking of relates to benefits. Benefits must continue during maternity leave, so company cars and car allowances continue because they are provided for personal use (as well as, in some cases, work use). Other benefits would generally include things like insusrances, subsidised gym membership, etc.

Tools of work - such as a work laptop, are not benefits. They are provided to you to do your job and not for personal use (even if a little personal use is tolerated). If you were specifically told that you were given a laptop as a benefit, that would be different, but under normal circumstances your employer can ask for it back.