Asked to use personal laptop at work, new hire feels uneasy - here's what people advised him to do

Reddit advice on using personal laptop at work: A Reddit user shared that he had recently joined a new job and was told by his employer that the company would not provide a work laptop. Instead, he was asked to use his personal laptop for work tasks, a request that immediately made him uncomfortable, as per a post shared on a subreddit community r/jobs.

Reddit Users Warn Against Using Personal Devices for Job Tasks

People responding in the r/jobs subreddit were largely united in their advice. One of the top comments just directly stated that using personal equipment for work is not a good idea and advised against it outright.

Why Using a Personal Laptop for Work Can Be Risky

Several commenters warned that relying on a personal laptop can create risks for both the employee and the employer, and encouraged the new hire to push back or request proper work equipment.


One Reddit user warned that, "Legally it would give them access to everything on it, just like using your personal cell phone. If a company is so short on money that they can’t provide you with the basic tools needed to do your job, they are not a company you should work for."

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Commenters Say Companies Should Provide Basic Work Equipment

Others pointed out that it is generally standard practice for companies to supply their own devices, particularly in roles where security and data protection matter.

One Redditor shared a personal experience with a large telehealth company that treated the use of personal laptops as normal practice. They said the situation raised red flags for them and ultimately led them to walk away, calling it a blessing in disguise.

Creative Ways Redditors Suggested Handling the Laptop Request

Some users suggested practical ways to handle the conversation, such as explaining that the personal laptop is not suitable for work use, in hopes that the employer would reconsider and provide official hardware.

A Reddit user suggested, "Tell them your laptop is 12 years old because you haven't had enough money to buy one. Tell them to supply you with one if they need you to use one." Another said, "Just tell them that your laptop got broken and you don't have a laptop at the moment."

Overall, the advice from the Reddit community was to avoid mixing personal and work devices, communicate your discomfort clearly, and ask for company-provided equipment rather than risking privacy, security, or liability issues.

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FAQs

Is it normal for companies to ask employees to use personal laptops?

Commenters said it is generally not standard practice, especially where security matters.



What advice did users give for handling the situation?

They suggested asking for a company laptop or explaining the personal device isn’t suitable.