Am i being Petty (personal computer at work)?

[volxstu]

So my boss won't give me a pay rise. I don't see the need to go into detail here but i know that I deserve one.
This has me rilled some what. Then i realised I am using my own laptop whilst I'm downstairs in the photography studio. Its no cheap Dell thing either, with the software i need its over £3000 worth of Kit.
Now i won't cut my nose of to spite my face as i need a computer down here to be efficient at my Job, but do you guys think it would be too petty of me to say to my boss that i won't use my own computer any more and suggest he buys one for down here?
I just find it really annoying that my own computer is getting devalued by being carried around the photography studio with me. I even asked at one point after i dropped it if he can put it onto the company insurance and he said that it would be too difficult without an invoice of purchase.
I would probably use that as my excuse to not use it for work any more. I don't want to damage an uninsured computer that cost more than my car is worth.
So what do you think?

 

[turbo_pib]

Turn around to him and say that your laptop is broken and you cant afford to fix it because he never gave you a pay rise
So now it will either give you a pay rise or buy new equipment...whicever option he choses you win something

 

[richydraper]

I'd take it home and keep it there if he wont insure it... when he asks why you're productivity has dropped tell him its because the company wont supply the proper tools... or just say that it has taken a **** and its in for repair

 

[sludgeguts]

Bit of a combo of the above two posts really.
"why has your productivity dropped?"

'MY laptop has died & I really cannot afford to replace it at the moment'

Let the boss lead the conversation from there.

 

[SeanW]

The fact it isn't insured against accidental damage at work would certainly stop me using my own laptop for it!!

I'm with Sludgeguts on this one!!

 

[jenks69]

It's an interesting one, most "trades men" that work for a building firm or mechanic etc use their own personal tools, most people I know who work with computers have their own personal set of screwdrivers etc, but I don't know of anyone off the top of my head who has to provide their own laptop / PC. I know of people doing it because it makes their job easier but they don't have to, but they choose to, which I guess is what you are doing?

In a previous job the role evolved to the point of me doing all remote site support for 70+ sites using my own car, however as it wasn't part of my original job spec I wasn't given a car allowance or company car, so I decided I'd cycle to work for a few months as my car was "off the road ", in the end they leased a car for the department. Job done! At first I missed the 40p a mile, but then I realised I wasn't adding thousands of miles to the car and spending out on tyres servicing etc etc.

 

[martwho]

Absolutely do not use your own equipment for work purposes. What happens when it breaks, he won't be paying for the repairs.
How valuable to the company are you?
You could force his hand by saying you need to earn more so you might have to start looking for work else where....

 

[pooroldcodger]

Young Codger has a similar situation, where his boss expects him to use his own DSLR / Macbook set up to shoot and edit photos. It puts a young guy who needs the job in a tough position and personally I think the employer is being rather cheeky.
I think you need to separate the two issues though. Why won't he give you a rise? Do you deserve something different from the other staff? Have you met all targets etc etc.? How is the firm doing? What is your future?
If you are not satisfied with the reply it might be better to let it be known that you are looking elsewhere rather than having to seem petulant (not that I would entirely blame you) by withdrawing your laptop.

 

[homeward]

I don't think you're being petty -- it's a natural reaction. But why did you end up using your own kit for work in the first place? If such a well-spec'd laptop is needed for you to do your job, then it should be provided -- either at the company's cost; or through setting up a formal BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy: which would cover things such as liability (both for data and hardware) and cost.

I would certainly be tempted to go down the my-laptop-needs-fixing route (but don't give a date as to when it'll be ready; or subtly hint that it might need replacing...); but, as part of that conversation, no matter how small the company is, I would suggest that you strongly recommend the institution of a proper BYOD policy, or that your employer (as suggested above by richydraper) supplies the tools you need to do your job to your full capabilities.

Have a hunt around for information on instituting such policies to back your suggestion up (although be warned that much of it is from the employer's perspective, and not the employee's...). Show that you've done your homework: and if your boss doesn't reply in kind, then I'd be looking elsewhere, I'm afraid....

This is from forbes.com:

BYOD seems simple, but it's not. Shifting the ownership of mobile devices has many complex implications for how a company does business. While many organizations look at BYOD as a possible way to reduce costs, the real value of a well-designed BYOD program is increasing employee satisfaction and speeding up the rate of technology adoption in the enterprise. However, it's critical to remember that the initial success of any BYOD program will depend on early preparation and an understanding of the nuances of complex issues such as trust and liability.​

 

[volxstu]

Great info there Homeward.
As for looking for a new Job, i am currently doing my CV but being in the Arts trade its a long winded process.
I came to using my own computer as the Photography is a relatively new side to the business. When i took over the jobs were a lot simpler and few and far between. In that case it wasnt to difficult to take photos and go upstairs to review them.
I then out of choice started using my own computer down stairs in the studio and over time as this part of the business has expanded and the laptop has become increasingly pertinent to productivity.

 

[richydraper]

As previously mentioned us mechanics don't get our kit bought for us... but it is atleast insured through our employers...

this caused a little bit of friction recently when I pulled my 15grands worth of kit out of the workshop because it was questionable whether or not it was going to be insured at a new site. Its stashed at a mates workshop at the moment waiting for me to switch employers on Friday. The very least I expect is for my kit to be insured if I'm using it for work.

 

[Magic Johnson]

I'd sack you on the spot if you said owt mate.

 

[Dominion]

Tell him that your laptop is in perfect working order, but it won't be for much longer if he doesn't give you a pay rise because you'll smash his head in with it.

On a serious note, let us know the outcome of your dilemma please Stu, because my brother is having very similar issues himself. However, he's a bit too wet to talk to his boss about it.

 

[ChrisUK]

In this day and age I'd be pleased I'm in a stable job you enjoy.

 

[scout]

In this day and age I'd be pleased I'm in a stable job you enjoy.

I'd rather be in a stable job I enjoy, not sure I'd enjoy the same job as you :devil:

 

[Focus Owner]

I would go about it in the lazy none confrontational way
id definitively want it insured.
but you said he needed an invoice, can't you find your receipt?
claim it broken in a week or 2
then say its hard drive a couple of days after, and a mate is looking at it.
claim its got a new hard drive, direct image transfer ect.
then, bring up the insurance problem again.

aint most expensive software only 12 month licences? always ask him to buy the licence for you

 

[sludgeguts]

I'm in a stable job .

Just the mucking out or do you also do the grooming ?


To be fair to your original quote - there really is something to be said for doing a job you actually enjoy. 'tis far, far better to wake up looking forward to going into work than lying there all night worrying over the minutae forced on you by the idiot in charge, even if the salary is fantastic.
Your health and family are far more important than fancy jobs & loads of cash.

 

[ChrisUK]

I'd rather be in a stable job I enjoy, not sure I'd enjoy the same job as you :devil:

Trust me I don't. Same s*** day in, day out fraught with entropy, and ignorance.

 

[volxstu]

I don't mind the Job but i have helped the company expand and given my boss plenty of ways that he can turn that expansion into profit rather than having too many inefficient staff. He has chosen to ignore that and is now scratching his head as to why we are inefficient and struggling to turn turnover into profit.
All that aside my salary isn't sufficient enough for the area that I live. I have to live with my parents to have any kind of lifestyle at all. Even if i got a ****ty one bed flat i would have to struggle to make ends meet, Let alone having any hobbies or interests.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Any chance you can go on your own?