Returning to Work - IT equipment

[Daisy182]

Hello,

I return to work in a few weeks and found out the person who has been covering my role is staying on as he applied for a new role within the company. However I’ve been told he will keep using my computer that was assigned to me before I went on maternity leave.

I was told my IT equipment would be left untouched and be there when I come back. As they have had someone else leave the business, they are going to give me their computer instead which I think has a lower spec.

Do I have any rights of demanding my computer back when I return?

thank you.

im not sure but I don’t think you do. It’s not your computer.

if it’s networked then I’d guess that any applications specific to you will be available to you on the other one.

how Will you know if it’s a lower spec? I wouldn’t have any idea with my work one.

Why would it have a lower spec? Surely the organisation has a set spec & IT set up. It'll be fine.

You may want to check how old the equipment is, we replace ours as a minimum every 4 years, so if it's 3 years old or something it's worth requesting they replace it.

It's rather unlikely your contract specifies one particular device, so they can provide you with one that'll be suitable. Have you queried the spec of the replacement device with your line manager and raised a concern if it's not up to the task?

No I don’t think you have a right to this. You need what you can do the job with.

Ah right okay. I was next in line for a new computer so they purchased me a new one to carry out my job as previous one was slow. So I assumed I would’ve been entitled to that device on returning.

The computer they are giving me is older and has a lower processor chip compared to mine but don’t know rest of the spec.

Why would you care about this? Of all the things to be bothered about after mat leave this seems really strange.

If the computer you are allocated isn’t up to the job then raise it. But you don’t have rights to a specific piece of equipment, even if they said one thing when you went off, it’s not a crime for things to change.

If it's not working as required, then you discuss with IT, but no need to make an issue now

Why would your company pay for something while you are on MAT leave and not use it?

it’s not your computer and as long as the one you are given does a job then there is nothing you can do about it

How reliant are you on the spec of your computer? Does your job require a high spec PC? If you have a job in design or similar, I can understand the desire for an optimum computer.

Two separate issues.
The computers are the businesses assets and they get to choose who has which computer.

You need a computer with the necessary functionality to do your job effectively. If the one you are given is not up to the job request a higher spec.

Because its an errosion on how it feels when returning from Mat Leave, OP doesnt feel as valued by her company when she had a new machine, went on mat leave and is returning to a inferior machine

Yes I’m in design. Will just have to raise an issue if it isn’t up to scratch. Go through the process again if needed.

I thought going back to work from maternity leave, nothing would change but it’s what it is I guess.

Got a new one before maternity leave. Was using it for a few months to carry out my role as the one previously wasn’t up to scratch. Seems I have to go through the same process again if required. Just pointless stress over the role of the computer if it isn’t capable.

Yep that’s why I was asking the question if it was allowed. Thanks for commenting.