Remote jobs that require your own computer

[Anonymous]

This might be a stupid question but I’m not that up on tech/privacy. If you work remotely but the company doesn’t provide a computer, how do you keep your employer from tracking what you do in your personal time on your same computer? My employer recently made me acknowledge they can track my activities. For work, I use several cloud based portals and am logged in via gmail. I’m not trying to hide what I’m doing during work hours but I also don’t want my employer to have access to my personal info/searches when not working. For example, my FB activity, Google searches, patient portals, financial affairs, future job searches. I know I can log out of my Google account but I’m not always good about remembering to do that (especially just to browse at lunch) and I’m not clear that logging out is enough anyway.

[Anonymous]

Get a different laptop for personal use. You can write off your "business" laptop as a business expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a different laptop for personal use. You can write off your "business" laptop as a business expense.

Is this a legit tax write off if you aren’t self-employed/contractor?

[Anonymous]

What kind of company is too cheap to provide a basic laptop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of company is too cheap to provide a basic laptop?

I never imagined I’d be bringing my own laptop and was gobsmacked when I found out the first week of work. The salary was low so I guess that should have a been a clue the employer was penny pinching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of company is too cheap to provide a basic laptop?

I never imagined I’d be bringing my own laptop and was gobsmacked when I found out the first week of work. The salary was low so I guess that should have a been a clue the employer was penny pinching.

Start looking for a new job. This laptop thing is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of company is too cheap to provide a basic laptop?

I never imagined I’d be bringing my own laptop and was gobsmacked when I found out the first week of work. The salary was low so I guess that should have a been a clue the employer was penny pinching.

Start looking for a new job. This laptop thing is nuts.

You’re right but it took me forever to find this job so easier said than done.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I’d ask on buy nothing is anyone has a computer to pass on. You might not get anything nice but if your employer wants you to have a decent machine they should provide it themselves. My company has us use our own machines, but they provide laptop refresh bonuses every three years to cover the expenses. I keep my work and personal stuff separate for the reasons you mention and my work laptop is nothing fancy.

[Anonymous]

Providing our own devices was part of the deal with my small employer. None of us make over $100k, so this may be a different planet than yours.

I decided to buy a new $500 laptop but use that for my personal stuff. I wiped my "old" laptop and it became my work device. Back in the old days, I could deduct things like my home office, using my car to drive to clients and buying a laptop but I haven't figured out how to deduct them under the newer tax laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Providing our own devices was part of the deal with my small employer. None of us make over $100k, so this may be a different planet than yours.

I decided to buy a new $500 laptop but use that for my personal stuff. I wiped my "old" laptop and it became my work device. Back in the old days, I could deduct things like my home office, using my car to drive to clients and buying a laptop but I haven't figured out how to deduct them under the newer tax laws.

This is a very low paying position. Not even close to 100k. I can’t easily afford to buy a laptop on the salary they pay but for my own peace of mind I decided last night to go out and buy something cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Providing our own devices was part of the deal with my small employer. None of us make over $100k, so this may be a different planet than yours.

I decided to buy a new $500 laptop but use that for my personal stuff. I wiped my "old" laptop and it became my work device. Back in the old days, I could deduct things like my home office, using my car to drive to clients and buying a laptop but I haven't figured out how to deduct them under the newer tax laws.

This is a very low paying position. Not even close to 100k. I can’t easily afford to buy a laptop on the salary they pay but for my own peace of mind I decided last night to go out and buy something cheap.

Go to Backmarket They sell them cheap with a warranty. It is largest reseller of phones, laptops etc on web.unlike eBay warranties and refunds if issues

[Anonymous]

Get a cheap Chromebook with not a lot of memory like they give kids for school. They are basically only good for logging into other networks. But only cost a few hundred.

[Anonymous]

All the remote jobs I had, the company provided the laptop/computer, monitor, etc. Your employer sounds sketchy.

[Anonymous]

Unless you install company-provided software, there isn't much that the company can do to monitor you. If you are just using web apps and IMAP mail, you should be fine. If you are paranoid, then create a separate local account for personal use.

But, yeah, unless this is a contractor position, the company should provide you with the tools that you need in order to do your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a different laptop for personal use. You can write off your "business" laptop as a business expense.

Is this a legit tax write off if you aren’t self-employed/contractor?

yes, because the company is requiring you to use your own laptop.