This is interesting...since I actually used to work for Kraft Foods. One thing to always look for with corporations...is many times they do not do something out of the "kindness of their hearts"...there has to be a benefit to the business as well!
In this case:
"As a new benefit for Kraft Foods employees, "Bring Your Own Computer lets you purchase the computer of your choice, giving you the flexibility to accomplish your work on your own computer in your own way, when and where you want. Kraft Foods helps pay for the costs with a stipend. In return, you agree to maintain your own computer and follow certain guidelines," the fact sheet outlines."
There are two carefully worded statements here to watch out for:
1. Kraft Foods helps pay for the costs with a stipend.
- It doesn't say how much Kraft will pay (most likely a portion of the computers cost...maybe 25%, maybe 50%)
- The payments will be via a "stipend"...which means that you as the employee have to come up with all of the cash/credit card for the computer up front...and then you get some sort of monthly payment (maybe $50-$100/month...who knows) from the company to cover whatever % the company agrees to pay of the total purchase cost.
2. In return, you agree to maintain your own computer and follow certain guidelines..."
- this means the company saves a TON of money employing fewer computer/IT professionals & saves money not having to service, upgrade, or replace the computers.
- since this Apple computer will be used as a work computer...it is going to get used a HECK of a lot more than an Apple computer that is a personal computer only. And if it's a laptop...then it will most likely be carried to & from work each day. All of this will expose the computer to more wear & tear, and accidental damage. If the computer wears out & needs replacement parts, or gets damaged due to a fall or spill...YOU have to pay for it. If it was a "company owned" computer...it would simply be replaced.
- what if you do wear out or damage your Apple work computer to the point that it needs to be replaced...will Kraft "help" you with a stipend to purchase a 2nd Apple computer...or will you have to pay for a 2nd, 3rd, etc. computer all on your own?
- what if this personal/work Apple computer gets stolen?? I bet the employee again will be responsible (it's their "personal" computer)...will the company help pay for a replacement....hmmm?
- finally...what happens if the employee needs to get their computer serviced, repaired, or replaced...and let's say this takes from a couple days to a week to accomplish. The employee has no computer or access to their files. A lot of us know how important our computers are to our work. How irresponsible is this employee going to look to his/her supervisor if they don't have their computer for up to a week (or more)!!!
I think that this is a really interesting program Kraft is trying out...but it certainly has it's downsides...and certainly has financial benefits for the company (fewer IT & computer professionals, employee has to pay for upkeep).
Like I said. I used to work for Kraft...as well as other large corporations...and nothing is tried that doesn't have some sort of financial benefit for the company. So the employee has to be VERY careful & investigate the potential downsides to this program before participating.
- Nick
This was a privately owned company with a total annual sales of over 1 billion dollars (in 1990)...so it wasn't a HUGE company...but then it wasn't small either.
