Buying a computer for an employee?
 

Hi all, need some advice.
I have a few employees that work for my business. They all have desktop computers to work with in the office and use them everyday. (except weekends of course) My office manager is asking for a laptop to be able to continue with emails and certain tasks outside of the office. Also when she travels either for the business or for her own sake she'd be able to bring along a computer and conduct business.

My question is,

1. do I, the business owner buy her the computer?

2. do I put up the money then have it taken out of her check?

3. Pay for half of the computer?

4. Have her buy her own computer?

Please help, I am a little confused. SmileWavy

It depends on the employee. Your reluctance to do it has already answered your question.

My coordinator aksed for a laptop to use at home and in the field and I bought it in a second. I got him a decent one that cost me about $800. Not the best out there but gets the job done.

If you are going to have employees with laptops, there are a few issues to think about.

1) Purchasing? Just buy it flat out. Get a Dell with the business support. They will come out and fix it if there is a problem. If you don't want to go dell, Toshiba also makes very nice machines.

2) What about data security? Is she going to carrying around your sensitive financial data on the laptop? Your customers financial data? If the answer is yes, then what steps will be taken to ensure the data is secure if the computer is lost or stolen?

3) Does she require remote access to your corporate network? Will this be established with dial up or VPN? Do you have the infrastructure to support either?

4) Could this person walk away with data and exploit it for her own gain, or pass it along to your competitors?

5) By her a cable lock for the computer and ask her to use it. This will allow her to lock the computer in place if she is in a cafe or public place.

I'm not trying to be a boogey man, just shaking the tree to see if these are issues that could potential affect how you go about it.

Re: Buying a computer for an employee?
 

If she's your employee, you buy the computer and you own it. If she quits, she gives it back. If she's a 1099 employee or some other independant, she buys the computer, it's hers. If she's legitimately using it for work to benefit *your* business, I don't see why you wouldn't buy it.

It seems like you don't trust her to work when she's away from the office. If that's the case, you have bigger issues than a $2000 computer.

Re: Re: Buying a computer for an employee?
 

It's not about trust at all. I just don't know the protocol, and am looking for other small business owners input and advice.

Do it.

I did it for my whole group.

Many of them had families or other obligations that would occasionally interfere with getting critical projects done.

I found that when faced with taking their kid to the doc vs staying late that staying late would tend to lose out. so they'd rush their work resulting in a product not quite up to par.

Got them the laptops and the deal was "you know what needs to be done and when it is due, you are adults and I trust you to make appropriate decisions in balancing life and the work that helps you to enjoy it. If you need to leave early, I still expect the work done. Here's a laptop, you don't want it then you work the hours that I set"

Worked out great. Every single one of them put in more work because they suddenly had more time to put into their work which they all took great pride in.

If your staff are good performes that like their work you can't lose.

But definately get something with fingerprint ID or other security device if the nature of her work dictates she carry confidential or financial data.

Scott

They'd end up redoing or fixing the next day.

If she's a W2 employee, you should definately buy the computer.

You should also have an Employee Handbook that clearly sets forth your policy regarding business computers. Things such as no use for personal business, the computer remains the company property at all time, and most importantly, there is no expectation of privacy when using the company's computers, which are subject to monitoring at any time.

You don't want to have her plugging in her own personal computer to your business system. That can lead to all sorts of problems down the road. It's a bad policy.

Good stuff. Thanks people.

It's tax deducatble. Do it.

Hell...my friggen caris tax deductable. :D All the repairs and maintenance, too! :D