Work
Disciplinary forTaking Work Laptop Abroad?
good96 · 14/01/2023 18:46
I’ve just seen someone post on Facebook that they received a final written warning for taking their work laptop abroad on holiday! Has the world gone bonkers? I have taken my work laptop before abroad when I went away for 2 weeks and everything ok…
but this just seems unjustified?
Sparklingbrook · 14/01/2023 19:34
LordEmsworth · 14/01/2023 19:31
Final warning and... they posted about it on Facebook?! Not the brightest spark, I take it ...
Yes the final warning bit. This sounds like the latest in a line of things they shouldn't be doing, then telling the world. They have one more chance.
Witchbitch20 · 14/01/2023 19:36
I think it’s bonkers that anyone posts on social media they’ve received a final written warning; which is highly likely to be another breach of policy.
Even if going abroad for work purposes our policies state you need permission to take equipment and these things are normally well publicised.
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/01/2023 19:36
If an infringement is deemed serious enough it's possible to go straight to final written warning and skip verbal/1st warning completely. It's for issues that are 1 step down from gross misconduct or if someone is new to role (within first 2 yrs).
ravenia · 14/01/2023 19:37
I used to work within a multinational company where the policy was that you couldn't take a work laptop out of the country unless you were travelling ON work.
I also had a colleague who got disciplined for taking his work laptop to hospital with him when admitted - due to potential theft. Poor guy thought he was being a diligent employee!
Reclaimtheoutdoors · 14/01/2023 19:41
good96 · 14/01/2023 18:46
I’ve just seen someone post on Facebook that they received a final written warning for taking their work laptop abroad on holiday! Has the world gone bonkers? I have taken my work laptop before abroad when I went away for 2 weeks and everything ok…
but this just seems unjustified?
I did this! I took it abroad because I was working a couple of days I was staying with friends in another European country . I didn’t even realise I wasn’t allowed until I wasn’t able to log in and had to speak to my manager about it.
Apparently security policy is if you do need to take it abroad you’re meant to request access 5 days ahead. My manager tried to put a late request through but the relevant department weren’t able to approve it in time. So I just didn’t work those days since I had no laptop access . Came back to work in the new year and no-one brought it up. My work is pretty easy going though.
TimeForMeToF1y · 14/01/2023 19:51
Riapia · 14/01/2023 19:46
Arrogance.
Mistakenly thought that they were indispensable.
UsingChangeofName · 14/01/2023 18:56
Agree with @Thesealsknowsheismagic
But am also wondering why you would want to take your work laptop on holiday 
Or maybe they simply dont have their own laptop and wanted to take one on holiday
SirGawain · 14/01/2023 20:35
Ohgodthepain · 14/01/2023 18:50
What else have they done wrong if this is the final written warning?
A final warning doesn't always mean that they have had previous warnings. It is possible to go from a blameless record to a final warning, or even dismissal, if the matter is serious enough.
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/01/2023 21:09
Sparklingbrook · 14/01/2023 21:02
But doesn’t final mean it’s the last of something? Otherwise it’s just a warning. Final warnings where I work come at the end of other warnings.
No it just means there won't be a second warning. It's a 'do it again and you're done' message. As opposed to 'please don't do it again! Oh ok you did it again well don't do it again will you. Ah I see you've done it again well that's it then one more and you're done. Righty ho pack you're stuff you're done'.
TimeToFlyNow · 14/01/2023 21:33
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:18
My work wouldn’t care at all . I even broke 2 in the last 3 years by mistake but be a kid accident and they don’t care . Probably a excuse to sack her , I would imagine
Well that depends what you do surely ? Mine aren't going to be upset by a laptop or phone being broken but some of us work with sensitive personal information so can't just take it where ever we want .
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:38
TimeToFlyNow · 14/01/2023 21:33
Well that depends what you do surely ? Mine aren't going to be upset by a laptop or phone being broken but some of us work with sensitive personal information so can't just take it where ever we want .
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:18
My work wouldn’t care at all . I even broke 2 in the last 3 years by mistake but be a kid accident and they don’t care . Probably a excuse to sack her , I would imagine
I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .
Outfor150 · 14/01/2023 21:41
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:38
I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .
TimeToFlyNow · 14/01/2023 21:33
Well that depends what you do surely ? Mine aren't going to be upset by a laptop or phone being broken but some of us work with sensitive personal information so can't just take it where ever we want .
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:18
My work wouldn’t care at all . I even broke 2 in the last 3 years by mistake but be a kid accident and they don’t care . Probably a excuse to sack her , I would imagine
And the laptop connects to the work servers from abroad… It’s hardly secure. M workplace wouldn’t even let you log on, I think.
TimeToFlyNow · 14/01/2023 21:42
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:38
I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .
TimeToFlyNow · 14/01/2023 21:33
Well that depends what you do surely ? Mine aren't going to be upset by a laptop or phone being broken but some of us work with sensitive personal information so can't just take it where ever we want .
Wiluli · 14/01/2023 21:18
My work wouldn’t care at all . I even broke 2 in the last 3 years by mistake but be a kid accident and they don’t care . Probably a excuse to sack her , I would imagine
That's different then
Although this guy could be on holiday but saying to work he's wfh , we don't know because op never came back
Newjobformoremoney · 14/01/2023 21:46
This is totally acceptable. Firstly, do they have insurance for the laptop abroad? More importantly there is really strict data stuff about moving data abroad and outside the EU. I allow staff to take laptop abroad mostly, but it really depends on the location and I make sure they are responsible for their insurance which will cover the laptop. You also can’t just take company property abroad without telling anyone!
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