Being asked to use personal email to sign up to external companies software

savings37

We are currently being asked to use our personal email account to sign up to an external companies software.

The software is from what I can make out truck telematics. The first we as employees heard of this was after work on Friday when an email dropped into our personal accounts (we don't have company emails) from the external company requesting us to sign up.

We haven't been given any forewarning about this from our employer.

What is the legality/best practice with using personal email accounts with work software? I'm not comfortable with it.

We have a policy stating personal mobiles shouldn't be used for work purposes.

Andy_L

You might want to check with your employer it's legit-could be a scam email

If it is then its Not illegal, unless the firm are trying to avoid paying for the software by getting a personal rather than commercial licence (which seems unlikely for truck telematics software)

Best practice - sign up for a free email account and just use that for work stuff

Grumpy_chap

My first thought is that this sounds like a scam.

If the OP believes it is not a scam, I would do nothing but raise a query with the boss when next at work along the lines of " received this message - not sure if it is a scam - if not a scam, this seems to conflict the policy about personal service and work purposes"

That is at least a positive action rather than simply ignoring the issue.

Is it possible that the employer has set this up as a test?

savings37

We don't think it's a scam (other drivers have received personal links too), currently going through alot of changes including driver facing cameras fitted last November (over night without consultation, I might add)

I doubt it's a test either, due to the above mentioned changes.

General_Grant

savings37 said:

We don't think it's a scam (other drivers have received personal links too), currently going through alot of changes including driver facing cameras fitted last November (over night without consultation, I might add)

I doubt it's a test either, due to the above mentioned changes.

But to a lot of people on here it sounds a potential scam and you haven't had official confirmation.  It is just guess work on the part of you and your colleagues.  Your employer's systems could have been hacked and your email addresses obtained in that way.

I agree, given the other changes taking place and your type of work, it is likely not to be a scam but you should really consider doing as @Grumpy_chap  suggests.  After all, there is general advice not to click on links in unsolicited emails.

SiliconChip

If your employer confirms that it is genuine then it may be worth asking how signing up using personal email complies with the rule not to use personal mobiles for work. If the software runs on a phone then I think they'll need to start supplying you with a work phone, and while they're doing that it would make sense for them to introduce a work email domain so that they can give you a work email address.

bap98189

If you don't want to use your personal Email (which is fair enough) then just sign up for a new Gmail account for work purposes.