Equipment to work from home

nicky73

Hi, 
I’ll try to keep this short.
In March 2020 when WFH began my employer prioritised laptops for those with a clinical vulnerability or without a personal laptop they could use.
I didn’t have a personal laptop and so was meant to receive a work laptop to use.
However, I was told no laptop was available and to see if I could borrow one to use. I managed to borrow an old laptop from a friend but explained it was very old and so very slow. 

After having various problems with the laptop I was promised a work laptop in July 2020 but again didn’t receive one and by November was forced to buy my own. At this stage our office was closed due to lockdown and I felt I had no choice if I was to keep my job.
My employer is upgrading all WFH equipment this year as we will  WFH most of the time on a permanent basis. They stated anyone working on a personal device would be prioritised. However, colleagues had their work laptops upgraded in July and despite chasing my manager and IT department I am yet to receive anything. They even stated in - a company wide WFH update in August that anyone with a personal laptop has now been upgraded to a work one!

I really couldn’t afford to buy a laptop and in desperation contacted my HR department last week. They have advised they cannot help as the WFH process is handled by IT. They suggest I raise this with my manager something I’ve been doing since March 2020. I only contacted HR as I was getting no help through my manager. 
When I eventually receive work equipment I plan to sell the laptop I had to buy to recoup at least some of the money. I’d also like my employer to reimburse me the balance between what I spent and what I get back as feel it’s so unfair I’m out of pocket when members of my team have been provided with equipment and have now been upgraded! 

Im not sure what to do from here as I feel so let down. I’d assumed HR would help me and speak to IT to resolve this.
Can anyone advise on what I can do? 

I’m very reluctant to raise a grievance as I know in my company this can have you labelled as a trouble maker but at the same time want something done even if it’s just the equipment promised so I can at least recoup some of my costs. 

Many thanks 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Tell them your laptop has broken and you will crack on with some work as soon as you receive the necessary tools to do your job.

Not ideal if you haven't done 2 years service yet though.

nicky73

Thanks for the suggestion.
I’ve  worked there over 20 years - never any issues until now!! 

Savvy_Sue

Do you have any idea where the problem lies?

I think I'd start with a phone call to your manager, asking what the problem is, pointing out that a WFH update in August mistakenly said all personal laptops had been replaced with work ones, and asking when you'll be getting yours. 

I'd follow that up with an email confirming whatever your manager says: "Just to confirm that in our conversation today you stated that the order for my laptop would now be actioned, and I should expect to receive it by the end of October" or whatever. If the manager is unable to give any information, something like "Just to confirm that despite me asking for a company laptop since March 2020 you are unable to say when I will receive one. As a result, I am working on a machine which does not enable me to work efficiently or effectively. Please tell me what you are intending to do to resolve this."

If no sensible reply, I think I would then follow this up by email to your manager, cc HR, cc someone senior in IT, cc whoever was responsible for that WFH update, asking for a resolution. 

The previous suggestion isn't bad either ... I definitely had colleagues borrow a work laptop when their own broke. Actually I TOLD some of them to stop using their home laptop when I found out how old (and therefore insecure) their Operating System was ... 

elsien

I wouldn’t have gone with the “forced to buy one” in the first place. If you could source a laptop, they could have ordered one for you. 

Just keep chasing and decline to use yours. You could always quote GDPR and security, if there are other people in the house who also use yours…..

74jax

I think the issue lies in that you purchased your own. No way would many have done that.

I would just say unfortunately as of mid Oct you will no longer have this laptop so can they prioritise a new one for you. And stick to it. Even if they have you an old one you can at least sell yours. 

Jillanddy

I'm afraid I couldn't add anything to what is already suggested by others. Your first mistake was saying you had a laptop / then buying a laptop. They didn't agree to pay for it or reimburse you, so there is no basis on which you can now claim money from them. And if you aren't prepared to make a fight out of it (not that I suspect that would work) then there is no point in starting something you aren't willing to see through. Tell them your laptop is broken, you can't afford to get it fixed / buy another and they will need to provide one.