Question time

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
11/23/2016 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

You work for a company, they buy your tools but they are for you to use on your work. a coworker approaches you and asks you if someone else in the company can use your tools, and they’ve already sorta told them that its okay. This person is not you superior. What do you say?

DISCUSSION (23)

PowderHound > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:45

Do you know them? Do you trust them? How long will they be using them? Sign this sheet in blood and I’ll consider it.

HammerheadFistpunch > PowderHound
11/23/2016 at 17:46

Lets up the ante and assume these are precision tools

PowderHound > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:48

Let’s air on the side of no way Jose

wkiernan > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!

jkm7680 > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:53

If I don’t need them, sure. But if you fuck em up then you’re paying.

vicali > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:53

Nope.. or else;

Kinja'd!!!

PS9 > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 17:59

Hell no. If everyone has to buy the tools, why don’t they have theirs? If everyone owns their own tools how can it be okay for anyone (superior or not) to lend others tools out?

No, no, 1000 times no.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:01

Company tools, with permission granted specifically to YOU—ask them to check with the person responsible for purchasing the tools.

General use tools, even if assigned primarily to you, get lent.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > PowderHound
11/23/2016 at 18:01

“err”

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:03

Sadly, I can’t even keep a fucking hammer and #2 Philips in my own goddamnded toolbox without someone from production “borrowing” it and failing to return it, forcing me to look alll over production for it because they *LOST THE TOOLS MANAGEMENT BOUGHT FOR THEM* already.... so... um, lets go with “No fucking way.”

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:03

“Let’s check with my manager.”

My company buys my tools for me to use with my work. They belong to the company, so I share them with coworkers often. I do rely on them to get my job done, though, so I won’t loan them out to somone I don’t know or someone who will then loan them to someone else.

I’ve never had this exact request, but I’ve had plenty of “hey can you do this for person X, I told him you could do it today” requests from person Y who isn’t my superior when I’m busy. These requests always get directs to my manager (or a superior who is available). That way if he thinks it’s important enough he can tell me to do it. If not, he lets person Y go back to person X to tell him that it won’t get done because he was shot down by management instead of it getting blamed on me being selfish or lazy or whatever me being too busy to accommodate some random extra request could be interpreted as. It also provides a neutral forum. In this can a place you can air your concern of “I don’t know this guy I’m loaning stuff too, so we need some assurance from his superiors that if things come back out of calibration, they are paying for the rush job to send them to the lab, because I need them first thing next week for job Z.” Otherwise just saying to person X that you don’t feel comfortable with person Y using the tools could come off as selfish or not being a team player.

TL;DR get yourself, the coworker who told you he said you’d loan your tools, the guy who will be using them, and your manager in a room to sort it out. Be nice, shake hands, don’t assume anybody is out to get you or will destroy anything and let it play out.

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:05

Generally:

Kinja'd!!!

Exceptions made for people I personally know are not morons, and will replace said tool with same if damage occurs. In your case, with likely really expensive video stuff, I’d look for a superior to ok so you’re in no way liable if they bork them.

HammerheadFistpunch > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/23/2016 at 18:07

makes sense. Im still jealous of my stuff, even if its not mine. I’ve been fighting with my boss and person Y for a while on this, but maybe I just need to ease off. Hopefully person Y (whom my boss hates) will be getting a new job soon.

CaptDale - is secretly British > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:08

Depends on the relationship with this person. If they are new and don’t have their own tools yet then no. If they are a friend and will treat the tools with respect, then yes of course.

HammerheadFistpunch > CaptDale - is secretly British
11/23/2016 at 18:11

I think generally they would try and be respectful of the tools, but they are delicate, expensive and easily damaged, not to mention have many components that are expensive. to be clear, its camera gear and lenses which are thousands each and each memory card is over $300.

CaptDale - is secretly British > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 18:24

FUCK NO!! There is one person I trust with any of my camera gear. And that is only because she is my best friend, has comparable gear, and would replace anything that broke.

PowderHound > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
11/23/2016 at 18:56

Thanks! I honestly had never written or seen that spelled out

XJDano > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 19:20

Me being in construction, hand tools, drills, whatever. Sure if they are on the same job site and I put them in my car at end of shift.

In your case, I’d talk with management. If they say “I already told X to lend Y your stuff” then make sure they are ready to buy you replacements if Y damages them.

If Y needs stuff it should be either a loaner from the office or his own.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 19:21

Kinja'd!!!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 19:28

I know the feeling. I know my kit belongs to the company and I never borrow it to use at home like some coworkers do, but at the same time I still feel ownership of it at work and don’t like to share it except with a few people I really trust. I will do it, but it’s not the best feeling.

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch
11/23/2016 at 20:01

Are the tools going to be used for company work in an appropriate manner by “someone else” who has sufficient experience and responsibility? Will the use of these tools be outside of the time when you yourself will expect to need the tools?

If you’ve answered yes to both, then “someone else” should be able use the tools.

However, tell “coworker” that “someone else” must come and ask themselves to use the tools so that you can ensure they have sufficient information to use the tools correctly, as they are your responsibility.

Also, be sure to thank “coworker”, on behalf of “someone else”, for having taken their time to help out. And if you know “coworker” well enough, tell him not to make promises he can’t himself keep.

Edit: The answer Blown Head Gaskets gave was good, too. Have them check with your manager. But make sure it’s not “coworker” who does it, but “someone else” who actually needs the tools.

TheRealBicycleBuck > HammerheadFistpunch
11/24/2016 at 06:53

I was going to say what he said. I don’t have expensive stuff to lend, but my time is often in demand. While I usually juggle multiple projects, if a marketing request comes in, it’s usually several days of work charged to overhead and is often to support one of our other offices. All of that means I’m being paid out of our marketing budget to win work for their office. That’s OK early in the year, but is a bad thing late in the year when the budgets are getting tight. In either case, our office leader has to approve.

TheRealBicycleBuck > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/24/2016 at 06:57

It’s really a matter of who will be held responsible if the other person breaks something. I’m not willing to lend something out if I am going to be held responsible if that person breaks it.