"What would help the most is to eliminate both the dependency on expensive commercial software and also eliminate the company-owned computer. If, like master mechanics in machine shops, the employee owned his or her own tools, none of this would be an issue. That means the company would require its knowledge worker to purchase specific tools and he or she would then own them. A company store could sell these products and even buy them back at the end of an employment period."
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Member since:"There were rumblings about next requiring employees to work from home with their own computer equipment loaded with some of the company's software. Telco including voice & data would be provided by the 'employee'.
With many companies cutting costs by using contractors, the idea of having 'employees' provide their own equipment --hardware & software-- is not so far fetched. There are many problems that are unforseen by dim-witted management, but that won't stop them from trying this."
The words you're looking for are Telecommuting and Home-Business. Personally I wouldn't mind. A home-based business is one of the few ways left to making it in the US. Plus I get to call the shots. Businesses no longer can provide job security, and now they can't even provide pensions, insurance, or any of the other benefits. So one might as well go the rest of the way, and cut the cord. Let them provide the one thing their good at...money. We do the rest.
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While you make very good points, I have already run into companies adopting similar policies.
For instance, a company that does insurance adjustment required digital cameras be purchased by the adjusters with their own money. They provided a set of poorly thought-out specs for those cameras and a date by which everyone was to have them.
There were rumblings about next requiring employees to work from home with their own computer equipment loaded with some of the company's software. Telco including voice & data would be provided by the 'employee'.
With many companies cutting costs by using contractors, the idea of having 'employees' provide their own equipment --hardware & software-- is not so far fetched. There are many problems that are unforseen by dim-witted management, but that won't stop them from trying this.
While these 'tools' do not have the long durable life, that isn't the company's problem. They'll only care that the work gets done. This may be a quick way to get short-term bottom-line results.