Disciplinary forTaking Work Laptop Abroad?

[good96]

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]

@LordEmsworth

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.

[Sparklingbrook]

Do you have any further info @good96 ?

[Witchbitch20]

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]

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]

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!

[Onnabugeisha]

Yes this happened at my work….fellow went on holiday to China with his work laptop. Didn’t just lose his job, was put away for espionage. 😂

Obviously industrial espionage is also a thing….

[Reclaimtheoutdoors]

@good96

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.

[maddiemookins16mum]

Posting about it on FB highlights that they aren’t the most sensible employee.

[Riapia]

@UsingChangeofName

Agree with @Thesealsknowsheismagic

But am also wondering why you would want to take your work laptop on holiday

Arrogance.
Mistakenly thought that they were indispensable.

[TimeForMeToF1y]

You know that there's no such thing as a taking your work laptop abroad law? Employers can set whatever rules they choose, no reason why they'd all be the same as yours

[TimeForMeToF1y]

@Riapia

Arrogance.
Mistakenly thought that they were indispensable.

Or maybe they simply dont have their own laptop and wanted to take one on holiday

[matthancockslovechild]

It will be because of their data retention policies, that all data stays in the UK / EU or something along those lines.

The laptop will alert IT security if it is outside of the permitted area for usage and the location can be identified.

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

We also have very strict rules about taking laptops abroad, where (there is a "green list") and how long for. There also needs to be a very good reason why.

[IwishIwasSupermum]

Yep we have to have special permission even for taking our own personal phones if we’ve set up to receive our work emails, why would you even do that?

[SirGawain]

@Ohgodthepain

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.

[Sparklingbrook]

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.

[RewildingAmbridge]

Depends where you work surely, I work for the MOJ and someone got fired for doing this (to be fair it was twice, the first time he got a final warning), it's about data security

[FatAgainItsLettuceTime]

@Sparklingbrook

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'.

[Wiluli]

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

[TimeToFlyNow]

@Wiluli

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]

@TimeToFlyNow

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 .

I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .

[Outfor150]

We definitely couldn’t take one abroad. We are not allowed to work abroad, so there’s no need to take a laptop abroad. IT can tell if you are working abroad too.

[Outfor150]

@Wiluli

I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .

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]

@Wiluli

I do , but I have very little info on the actual laptop as most in on the work severs .

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]

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!