Work IT problems stopping me working

[FMOB]

Well I find myself in an odd situation, working from home at the moment and laptop has been slowly dying, corporate IT are aware and have managed to drag it out for a couple of months of try this and that, etc.

About a month ago they agreed to a replacement but have made no progress and the laptop is now un-useable.

I have plenty to do and not having a working laptop is a major block to any progress so can I now say the laptop is dead, corporate IT still haven't resolved the issue after 2 months+, I am available for work and do my own stuff until they resolve it?

The solution I want is to get back on with things but the situation has now become ridiculous, even if I was in the office I would still be stuck.

[bitchstewie]

Escalate it through your line manager.

If I had a member of staff claiming they were literally unable to work I'd be doing all I could to ensure that IT either got the existing laptop working or getting it replaced.

[Scabutz]

bhstewie said:

Escalate it through your line manager.

If I had a member of staff claiming they were literally unable to work I'd be doing all I could to ensure that IT either got the existing laptop working or getting it replaced.

This. If your manager isn't senior enough to kick ass then they go to their manager and go up the chain till its sorted.

If one of my team said their laptop was so st they couldn't work it would be sorted within a day, one way or another.

[FMOB]

bhstewie said:

Escalate it through your line manager.

If I had a member of staff claiming they were literally unable to work I'd be doing all I could to ensure that IT either got the existing laptop working or getting it replaced.

Yup, my manager is aware, his director aware and everyone knows the IT dept is useless.

[Scabutz]

FMOB said:

bhstewie said:

Escalate it through your line manager.

If I had a member of staff claiming they were literally unable to work I'd be doing all I could to ensure that IT either got the existing laptop working or getting it replaced.

Yup, my manager is aware, his director aware and everyone knows the IT dept is useless.

Well, sounds like your manager and the director are also useless. Sorry about that.

[bitchstewie]

FMOB said:

Yup, my manager is aware, his director aware and everyone knows the IT dept is useless.

So erm, what's the question then?

[CoolHands]

Maybe suggest a solution? Find a good value for money screen you can plug in as external monitor. You offer to purchase if they reimburse you.

They might say great, and problem solved

[stuthemong]

Write a totally non emotive and purely factual email outlining what you’ve done and what the recommendations from it have been and the sitrep

State you are currently unable to use your laptop to perform work activities.

Email manager of tech support with your manager in cc.

If you’re really pissed set a timeline for resolution, eg “if this isn’t resolved within 72 hours I will escalate further. I would also like an explanation for how this has happened and what you’d do differently next time as the support you are offering is failing the business. I am happy to add colour to the direct cost impact on our group of my not being able to perform my work if that would help you make a case for more budget / spares if that I’d the issue “

I love these silly corporate support function fights

[TameRacingDriver]

If they're that reluctant to get you a new computer, then I have to wonder why this is? Money so tight they can't afford it? If so, then you probably need to plan your escape ASAP. At my place you would have a new computer shipped to you by 12pm the following day. If you were in an office, you'd get a loaner laptop and a replacement within the same day (as long as it was early enough in the day).

[interstellar]

stuthe said:

Write a totally non emotive and purely factual email outlining what you’ve done and what the recommendations from it have been and the sitrep

State you are currently unable to use your laptop to perform work activities.

Email manager of tech support with your manager in cc.

If you’re really pissed set a timeline for resolution, eg “if this isn’t resolved within 72 hours I will escalate further. I would also like an explanation for how this has happened and what you’d do differently next time as the support you are offering is failing the business. I am happy to add colour to the direct cost impact on our group of my not being able to perform my work if that would help you make a case for more budget / spares if that I’d the issue “

I love these silly corporate support function fights

He could do this but he can’t email anyone as his laptop is broken

[bitchstewie]

CoolHands said:

Maybe suggest a solution? Find a good value for money screen you can plug in as external monitor. You offer to purchase if they reimburse you.

They might say great, and problem solved

Honestly don't do this.

Just escalate and keep escalating and document when and to who you escalated it.

[CoolHands]

Yeah but that’s a bit sad if it’s just an incompetent organisation. Sometimes better to be a doer and get things done.

On the other hand maybe the company is so far down the tubes you’d better look for another job before they go under and a monitor is the least of your problems.

[hidetheelephants]

Treat it as gardening leave and build a patio.

[SteBrown91]

Sounds like the IT team are typical corporate wasters tbh.

Big IT teams can be completely inept.

I am IT at a smallish company (still 500 employees) and with stuff like that we try and just get it sorted one way or another. End of the day it’s not our money so we just buy/pay what’s needed within reason to keep someone working.

If that means setting up a temporary scruffy but functional laptop to get them out of a hole until a replacement arrives or it’s repaired then we get it done. Often doubles our work as we are doing the whole laptop setup and transfer twice but if it needs to be done then so be it.

I’d try leaning on your manager/director more. Someone needs to give them some ear bashing.

[FMOB]

It isn't a shortage of money, they just can't get their arses in gear.

[Actual]

When I finished my last home based job I was working my handover and the office admin arranged for my computer and phone to be collected a few days before my last day so I packaged it all up and it was collected. For the last few days of employment I was then completely cut off as the corporate security meant I had no access to anything or anyone without a computer and phone. Perfect.

[MickC]

Have you been in to the office to hassle them in person with the offending laptop? If they see how bad it is they might have a loan one. or use a desktop in the office.

[okgo]

FMOB said:

It isn't a shortage of money, they just can't get their arses in gear.

It’s a laptop. Not a hadron collider. I’d be concerned about being paid at the end of the month if they can’t find a grand for a laptop.

[megaphone]

MickC said:

Have you been in to the office to hassle them in person with the offending laptop? If they see how bad it is they might have a loan one. or use a desktop in the office.

This, why can't you go to the office and work?

[judas]

Sounds like your entire IT department needs firing, or having the fear of god put into them at the very least. Too many IT teams forget what they're there for: to allow the business to function efficiently, and they get sloppy and arrogant because they think they are the ones with the power - and I say that as someone in charge of IT and Ops at my company.

For us, a broken laptop is treated as a critical issue because a dev unable to work isn't charging billable hours to our clients, so we're losing money for every hour they're sat there twiddling their thumbs.