Laptop Not Working - Annual Leave or Down Time?

Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 10:37

I spilled water on my work laptop yesterday while working from home, and it is no longer turning on.

I went into the office yesterday afternoon (1.5 hours from my home each way), but they didn't have any spare laptops. They'll be able to give me a new computer on Monday morning, so I'll work from home half of today using my own computer but I won't be able to do a full day's work as I don't have access to the company network and systems.

I'm in two minds about whether I should take the afternoon as annual leave, it's definitely my fault my laptop is not working, but at the same time you'd think that a large company would have some laptops in reserve for situations like this. Should I pay for the companies lack of redundancy, or should I own the mistake and take annual leave?

Poll Options

  • 13
    Take afternoon as annual leave
  • 70
    Don't take leave (idle time)
Education & Work

Comments

  • Mechz on 02/07/2021 - 10:38
    +22

    It's half a day man, not a week. Just use it for planning and reflection for your performance review.

  • contrafibularities on 02/07/2021 - 10:39
    +10

    Make yourself useful and post bargains on Ozb on company time.

  • jv on 02/07/2021 - 10:43

    I spilled water on my work laptop yesterday while working from home, and it is no longer turning on.

    Buy a new one…

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 10:51

      I've actually got a second work laptop however it's bricked itself as it hasn't been plugged into the work network for 12 months
      They're reimaging this and it should be working on Monday

  • bobbified on 02/07/2021 - 10:44
    +7

    Do you regular do unpaid overtime? If yes, then save your annual leave. It's the "give and take" situation. (Unless you're in a call centre or high volume processing centre or something similar, any other work you have isn't going to do itself so you're going to end up doing it whether it's today or Monday anyway).

    Go and have an early weekend!

  • Meho2026 on 02/07/2021 - 10:44
    +2

    Just go into the office and work from there. Lock down rules state, you are allowed to leave the house for work if you can not work from home.
    If you choose not to do that, then take annual leave.
    Your employer has taken all the reasonable steps to facilitate WFH. You were supplied the equipment to WFH but you were negligent in taking care of it.

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 10:57
      +2

      Nah, heading into the office makes no sense as I wouldn't have a computer, I'd just be chatting to people and wasting everyone's time

      • andresampras on 02/07/2021 - 11:31
        +10

        you'd be boosting morale

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 02/07/2021 - 10:47

    It's up to you, but I am sure they will be less than impressed as it is. If need be, head into work, and work from there.

    It's also about 'Give and take' as mentioned.

    'Don't bite the hand that feeds' IMO.

    Best of luck. :)

  • Gunther on 02/07/2021 - 10:54

    Surely you can still access emails etc via Office365?

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 10:56

      yeah, that gives me half a day of work, chasing up a few bits and pieces. But I can't access files or software I need to do my job

  • The GM on 02/07/2021 - 11:25
    +2

    What did your manager say to do when you asked them?

    • SF3 on 02/07/2021 - 13:22
      +8

      OP already did, the manager said to ask in OzBargain forums, as it has clearer policies.

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 15:36
      +2

      I didn't want my manager's opinion, he's got different interests at stake to me

  • freefall101 on 02/07/2021 - 11:40
    +2

    Props on being a decent person and thinking of this. I know way too many people who have just been netflix employees the past year, the odds of them doing more than 3 hours work on Friday is slim to none.

    Find some other stuff to do like planning, performance review, study work related stuff. In my last job I was given a free day each month to learn/train/etc. It was massively useful, improved my work and gave my brain something else to do for a while.

    At worst if you can get into Office365 then write some documentation for the afternoon. The next person will thank you.

  • Kaz0551 on 02/07/2021 - 12:07
    +9

    If you spilt water on your laptop in the office would you be taking annual leave or downtime?

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 15:36

      Yeah, the working from home aspect is a bit of a red herring.

  • TheBird on 02/07/2021 - 13:53

    Though it can depend on the work you're doing, but I'd just dissappear. I would have already done more than enough to justify the absense to make it up before now, but if I felt I hadn't, I would make it up later.

  • dtxau on 02/07/2021 - 15:43
    +2

    Should I pay for the companies lack of redundancy, or should I own the mistake and take annual leave?

    Own the mistake otherwise you would end up:
    - Blaming the company for not having enough stock (there are major shortages)
    - Blaming the laptop vendor for not making waterproof hardware
    - Blaming the cup manufacturer for not making a sturdy container
    - Blaming the 8 cups of water a day rule for making you drink water
    - Blaming the food you ate that made you thirsty in the first place
    - Blaming your parents for conceiving you

    Did I miss anything else OP?

    • Bren20 on 02/07/2021 - 16:05

      I've just learnt The company has a stockpile of computers, however the person in procurement who needs to approve giving one to me is on leave today…

      • lew380 on 03/07/2021 - 11:23
        +2

        So they can't provide the resources required, they should therefore take the hit of a loss of production for half a day for one of their employees. Your employer isnt your friend, you complete tasks to the best of your ability and they pay you each day. Don't give them any grounds to start filtering out hours.

  • bjd533 on 03/07/2021 - 17:56

    If you are on good terms with your boss and nothing will break while you're gone, then the time is yours. Just have a pretend activity at the ready like training or working off hard copies.

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