Definitely a scam. Quit immediately then dive out the window.
Then mid air with glass falling all around you go
FUCCK YOOOOOUU
just before hitting the ground exploding into a mist of blood and guts as your in tact brain slides across the asphalt only coming to a stop when hitting the Tesla supercharger your boss parks at when he bothers getting into work - the whole time your consciousness is still active, you know what’s happening, and in that moment, with DMT flooding your senses and pulsing through your neural capillaries like a row of steeds neck and neck at the end of the championship race — WHAM!
You wake up
God says
“MacBooks suck anyway! why didn’t you just expense a Linux box???”
And the lesson is that God uses Linux. Jesus uses Android because it’s like a Linux that’s always with you.
As a counterpoint to all the negative comments here, it’s entirely possible the CTO knows it’s gonna take x time to get your company laptop, which precisely because it’s a regulated industry might mean days/weeks of you waiting around with nothing to do
In that situation it makes sense for you to bring a personal laptop which you can use to access non confidential stuff, you might not write any code in it and might just be given docs to read through
Yeah this thread is making a lot of assumptions. Maybe the machine has been ordered, or they need to do HR type onboarding for the first few hours, or any number of reasons. Every job I've ever started I bring my own machine just in case and it has been fine.
It's only a red flag when they specifically ask you to start doing work on your own machine.
I like this take. And I have been in that position before, get my self familiarized with whatever frameworks they are using.
But actual code, that's gonna need a work issued machine. They had over a week now since I accepted the offer and they have an MSP, so it's a bit odd for it to take that long.
Well, you should send this ‘yeah, I can bring my personal laptop while my machine gets set up - when will my company issued device be available?’ Oh and yeah, bring a comically old laptop running an obscure Linux distro. DSL would be best.
Using your personal laptop for work is unheard of for anything other than a startup that is still a couple dudes in their basement. (Where you are one of the original dudes)
I would take out my personal SSD, put in a blank one and freshly install the needed OS.
Just to conform, and in case I needed a working machine until I found out whether they were serious enough to properly supply the necessities.
If not, then I could carry on with my own "good as new" laptop dedicated to the employer as long as necessary until I had collected enough pay to get an additional one for myself. Nicer one too.
Sadly Mac's are all soldered in these days. My first Macbook Pro back in 2009 had so many mods, that I even took out the disc drive and used a special cradle to have a second SSD.
Oof. That's a bright red flag: Regulated industry and own laptop? Please tell me at least if they asked you to install a new harddrive and company VPN. If not, the company is probably compliance theater and has no business being in the business. God have mercy on their customers.
How to handle it? If you can afford it, leave and don't come back. If not, bring it up first thing you see your manager, latest on your first 1-1. This can't go on. If he brushes off, check if he intends to work you hard like 996. That usually means they are looking to use your work and find a reason to fire you asap afterwards.
Just out of curiosity: Did you oversell yourself during the interviews?
The only person higher I can go to is the CEO. And yes, their customer is celebrating a birthday today, I am sure they wouldn't be happy to hear about employees working on personal machines.
I don't oversell myself in interviews, most of my work in the last 7 years has been inbound referrals, so it is just a team fit interview most of the time.
I think it just doesn’t occur to companies of a certain size. I was similarly flummoxed when my current job also assumed I was BYOPC, though they acquiesced to buy me a Mac when I asked. But, the rest of the team still uses their desktops and (!!) has trouble when traveling and being forced to use an alternate development environment.
I was baffled when a large global consulting firm had me use my personal laptop and iPad (which they filmed to show off my work to other clients) for a month before getting me setup. And that was in 2018, I was desperate for work at the time.
If only I still had my Lenovo S10 netbook from 2009 to bring in, I totally would. But if they can't get me a machine to do my job, I am concerned about my paycheck showing up.
Maybe it's my age talking but if a company pulled that on me here's what I'd do:
Show up on Monday without a computer. When asked, explain that they're the employer, its standard to pay for a work machine for me, and that its downright pathetic that they can't or won't.
Yes, I'd call them out. It's clearly a power move, and I'd put it right back to them. Pathetic.
I have considered that. The only reason I will bring it with me is if I need to fill out any other on-boarding paper work, but that is the limit. Maybe off-boarding as well if they don't take it well.
No way they could ever pass an ITAR or SOC 2 audit with employees using their own machines. Data security is critical part of these governmental frameworks and having a set of controls in place that companies must comply with if they are to be certified. Keeping ITAR data on an employee's personal PC that is open to the internet is probably one of the biggest no-no's I can envision.
It amazes me what supposed SOC2 "compliant" companies are willing to skimp on. A recent employer of mine, also regulated kept fighting me on getting me a work laptop. Also another funded SF based startup.
To me the bigger issue is asking me to bring a laptop with me in the first place. But I will see how it plays out on Monday. As I said in another comment, I know the drill, no personal equipment ever touches company IP.
Red flag. Never work on company stuff on personal machine. They need to get their act together and provide equipment. You show up; you get paid--even if they are still provisioning your equipment.
In the meantime, shadow folks, attend standups, get to know your colleagues, the products, etc.
That's my plan, or they can buy my existing laptop at market rate on the spot and I will happily flash it. But in all reality they can walk down to Union Square Apple store across the street and pick up a MacBook.
This happened to my wife at a small PR firm. She told them she doesn't have a laptop (she didn't really have a functional one) and they just bought her a personal one as a 'signing bonus' and they have her bring it in.
It's a bit unusual, it's a yellow flag for sure, but it depends on how desperate you are for a job.
I'd tell them "i don't have a laptop, just a desktop" and see what they say? If they seem like they're going to not hire you for that, I agree with what other folks said, buy a cheap chromebook.
Definitely a scam. Quit immediately then dive out the window.
Then mid air with glass falling all around you go
just before hitting the ground exploding into a mist of blood and guts as your in tact brain slides across the asphalt only coming to a stop when hitting the Tesla supercharger your boss parks at when he bothers getting into work - the whole time your consciousness is still active, you know what’s happening, and in that moment, with DMT flooding your senses and pulsing through your neural capillaries like a row of steeds neck and neck at the end of the championship race — WHAM!You wake up
God says
“MacBooks suck anyway! why didn’t you just expense a Linux box???”
And the lesson is that God uses Linux. Jesus uses Android because it’s like a Linux that’s always with you.
As a counterpoint to all the negative comments here, it’s entirely possible the CTO knows it’s gonna take x time to get your company laptop, which precisely because it’s a regulated industry might mean days/weeks of you waiting around with nothing to do
In that situation it makes sense for you to bring a personal laptop which you can use to access non confidential stuff, you might not write any code in it and might just be given docs to read through
Yeah this thread is making a lot of assumptions. Maybe the machine has been ordered, or they need to do HR type onboarding for the first few hours, or any number of reasons. Every job I've ever started I bring my own machine just in case and it has been fine.
It's only a red flag when they specifically ask you to start doing work on your own machine.
I am going in with a positive attitude that this is the case, but 100% with you no actual coding starts on my personal machine.
I like this take. And I have been in that position before, get my self familiarized with whatever frameworks they are using.
But actual code, that's gonna need a work issued machine. They had over a week now since I accepted the offer and they have an MSP, so it's a bit odd for it to take that long.
Well, you should send this ‘yeah, I can bring my personal laptop while my machine gets set up - when will my company issued device be available?’ Oh and yeah, bring a comically old laptop running an obscure Linux distro. DSL would be best.
I agree with this. Gotta bring Red Star linux for maximum comedic effect given the regulated nature of the job.
fyi Amazon has toy laptops for kids for pretty cheap....
If I am just going to wait for a laptop and read documentation in the meantime, I am not gonna subject myself to that.
PS: I like using your app!
Using your personal laptop for work is unheard of for anything other than a startup that is still a couple dudes in their basement. (Where you are one of the original dudes)
Run away.
Right there with you. I'll have to see how it plays out on Monday.
I would take out my personal SSD, put in a blank one and freshly install the needed OS.
Just to conform, and in case I needed a working machine until I found out whether they were serious enough to properly supply the necessities.
If not, then I could carry on with my own "good as new" laptop dedicated to the employer as long as necessary until I had collected enough pay to get an additional one for myself. Nicer one too.
Before even thinking about making any waves.
Sadly Mac's are all soldered in these days. My first Macbook Pro back in 2009 had so many mods, that I even took out the disc drive and used a special cradle to have a second SSD.
Oof. That's a bright red flag: Regulated industry and own laptop? Please tell me at least if they asked you to install a new harddrive and company VPN. If not, the company is probably compliance theater and has no business being in the business. God have mercy on their customers.
How to handle it? If you can afford it, leave and don't come back. If not, bring it up first thing you see your manager, latest on your first 1-1. This can't go on. If he brushes off, check if he intends to work you hard like 996. That usually means they are looking to use your work and find a reason to fire you asap afterwards.
Just out of curiosity: Did you oversell yourself during the interviews?
The only person higher I can go to is the CEO. And yes, their customer is celebrating a birthday today, I am sure they wouldn't be happy to hear about employees working on personal machines.
I don't oversell myself in interviews, most of my work in the last 7 years has been inbound referrals, so it is just a team fit interview most of the time.
Buy a new laptop.
I didn’t get a work laptop when I was at a mega corp and the pay was absurdly good.
I ended up remote desktoping into a secured pc anyway.
Don’t put your personal stuff on the laptop for any reason. If money is a concern buy a laptop from Costco.
90 day return policy in case the first check bounces or something.
If the pay was absurdly good, I will gladly do whatever is needed. But it's not.
I think it just doesn’t occur to companies of a certain size. I was similarly flummoxed when my current job also assumed I was BYOPC, though they acquiesced to buy me a Mac when I asked. But, the rest of the team still uses their desktops and (!!) has trouble when traveling and being forced to use an alternate development environment.
I was baffled when a large global consulting firm had me use my personal laptop and iPad (which they filmed to show off my work to other clients) for a month before getting me setup. And that was in 2018, I was desperate for work at the time.
Buy a $50 used chromebook and take it in.
If only I still had my Lenovo S10 netbook from 2009 to bring in, I totally would. But if they can't get me a machine to do my job, I am concerned about my paycheck showing up.
Maybe it's my age talking but if a company pulled that on me here's what I'd do:
Show up on Monday without a computer. When asked, explain that they're the employer, its standard to pay for a work machine for me, and that its downright pathetic that they can't or won't.
Yes, I'd call them out. It's clearly a power move, and I'd put it right back to them. Pathetic.
I have considered that. The only reason I will bring it with me is if I need to fill out any other on-boarding paper work, but that is the limit. Maybe off-boarding as well if they don't take it well.
No way they could ever pass an ITAR or SOC 2 audit with employees using their own machines. Data security is critical part of these governmental frameworks and having a set of controls in place that companies must comply with if they are to be certified. Keeping ITAR data on an employee's personal PC that is open to the internet is probably one of the biggest no-no's I can envision.
It amazes me what supposed SOC2 "compliant" companies are willing to skimp on. A recent employer of mine, also regulated kept fighting me on getting me a work laptop. Also another funded SF based startup.
I'm surprised at the immediate leaps to conclusions here...
Why not text him back and ask him why directly? This could all be clarified in a few messages.
To me the bigger issue is asking me to bring a laptop with me in the first place. But I will see how it plays out on Monday. As I said in another comment, I know the drill, no personal equipment ever touches company IP.
Red flag. Never work on company stuff on personal machine. They need to get their act together and provide equipment. You show up; you get paid--even if they are still provisioning your equipment.
In the meantime, shadow folks, attend standups, get to know your colleagues, the products, etc.
That's my plan, or they can buy my existing laptop at market rate on the spot and I will happily flash it. But in all reality they can walk down to Union Square Apple store across the street and pick up a MacBook.
Run Consider if you really want/need to join them. Working in a regulated space for a company that is asking this to a new hire seems dangerous
I need the paycheck, but I have plenty of runway.
This happened to my wife at a small PR firm. She told them she doesn't have a laptop (she didn't really have a functional one) and they just bought her a personal one as a 'signing bonus' and they have her bring it in.
It's a bit unusual, it's a yellow flag for sure, but it depends on how desperate you are for a job.
I'd tell them "i don't have a laptop, just a desktop" and see what they say? If they seem like they're going to not hire you for that, I agree with what other folks said, buy a cheap chromebook.