Employer expects BYOD phone

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Nate001

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Topic # 245612 13-Feb-2019 11:51

Hi all,

Friend started a new job in civil consulting. They were surprised to learn they would not get a work phone as the job requires site visits, making calls, taking photos, google maps etc etc. The company expects everyone to use their own phone and instead reimburse up to $40/month.

Is this normal practice? Neither of us have much experience regarding work phones as my job doesn't require one. To me $40 is not a lot barely covering actual plan costs, with no consideration for the cost of the device. No mention what happens if device is damaged because of work activities, I assume you have to replace it yourself?

What rights do you have? Refuse to use your own phone?

1 | 2 | 3

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Geek
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Reply # 2177560 13-Feb-2019 12:04

Thats what happens with me. I pay my bill, send it to the finance dept, they then reimburse me $40 of the total $55

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Reply # 2177562 13-Feb-2019 12:06

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IME if the device is deemed critical to the role and they are insisting on BYOD rather than providing a phone, then the company should make appropriate contribution to the purchasing & maintenance of a device as well as reimbursing all legitimate call and data costs incurred in the role without an arbitrary limit.

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Reply # 2177563 13-Feb-2019 12:06

thewabbit:

Thats what happens with me. I pay my bill, send it to the finance dept, they then reimburse me $40 of the total $55

What if your business calls and data exceeded $40?

Geektastic

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Reply # 2177568 13-Feb-2019 12:18

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Sounds like a skinflint company to work for. Alarm bells for other areas they may be skimping on.

Paul1977

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Reply # 2177569 13-Feb-2019 12:18

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The biggest issue I see with that is what happens if you leave? You will forever be getting work related calls about a job you are no longer at.

Nate001

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Reply # 2177576 13-Feb-2019 12:24

Item:

IME if the device is deemed critical to the role and they are insisting on BYOD rather than providing a phone, then the company should make appropriate contribution to the purchasing & maintenance of a device as well as reimbursing all legitimate call and data costs incurred in the role without an arbitrary limit.

That would be my expectation too if I worked there.

Geektastic: Sounds like a skinflint company to work for. Alarm bells for other areas they may be skimping on.

It was a real surprise, this company is by no means small either.

Gurezaemon

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Reply # 2177579 13-Feb-2019 12:30

2 people support this post

If nothing else, this might raise concerns about corporate IP - if someone found your phone and could get into it, they might be able to get access to corporate data and the like.

coffeebaron

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Reply # 2177581 13-Feb-2019 12:33

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BYO non-smartphone lol!

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Reply # 2177582 13-Feb-2019 12:36

Paul1977:

The biggest issue I see with that is what happens if you leave? You will forever be getting work related calls about a job you are no longer at.

Plus:

1) Data and IP security & responsibility (mentioned above)

2) Support for the device and any company services/email etc - who is responsible?

3) "Acceptable usage" issues - if this is a personal phone it may well have things on it that are incompatible with a usage policy!

Paul1977

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Reply # 2177606 13-Feb-2019 13:13

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I think if a smartphone is required to perform the duties of the job then one should be supplied. But I don't have an issue with optional BYOD if an employee prefers their own device, as security policies can still be pushed to the device.

sen8or

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Reply # 2177607 13-Feb-2019 13:14

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A tool of the trade as a BYOD? Sounds quite bizzare.

We provide phones to all our staff incl data, txt and unlim calls, this I thought was quite standard. Now some use the phone for personal use and have it as their only device (I do) while others keep work / personal cell separate. I can see the argument for reimbursing a portion of a phone cost on a monthly basis given the level of personal use that could be done on a phone plan, but, the added value of a "full use phone perk" is surely worth more for staff morale and attitude towards the employer than the $20 or so they may be saving by just not providing a decent phone / plan to begin with?

Although, it would reduce the amount of whining done about phones (too slow, hate apple / hate android, useless etc etc etc)

Paul1977

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Reply # 2177644 13-Feb-2019 13:18

sen8or:

A tool of the trade as a BYOD? Sounds quite bizzare.

That said, I had a plumber fixing a leak the other day. He worked for a large outfit and said he had to supply all his own tools.

Ge0rge

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Reply # 2177645 13-Feb-2019 13:24

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Paul1977:
sen8or:

A tool of the trade as a BYOD? Sounds quite bizzare.

That said, I had a plumber fixing a leak the other day. He worked for a large outfit and said he had to supply all his own tools.

I have people that work for me who are employed by a large multi-national company who have to provide their own tools, that's not uncommon at all. However, the company pays a tool allowance for maintenance and upkeep.