Is a company equipment policy necessary?

All employees are issued equipment to do their job. What happens when the equipment is broken? Who is responsible for repairs? Other equipment issues arise when it is used for non-work purposes or is taken off-site. To avoid potential problems with equipment use, it is wise to have a company equipment policy.

Equipment issued to employees belongs to [COMPANY NAME] and are to be used for company business. [COMPANY NAME] recognizes the need for occasional personal use of company equipment including, but not limited to, telephones, E-mail, facsimile machines but insists that such personal use be absolutely necessary and not interfere with production or work flow.

Keys issued for employee desks, files or workstations are for the purpose of securing company business and are not issued for the purpose of protecting employee's personal valuables. Thefts should be reported to your manager. The company recognizes no employee privacy interest that would prevent an employee's manager from checking equipment issued to employees, including employee desks and computers.

Company equipment that is authorized to be used off company premises (i.e., at home) is for [COMPANY NAME] business only. Any arrangements that include incidental personal use must be in writing.

Breakage of company equipment used in the course of company business is the responsibility of [COMPANY NAME].

The use of company equipment that is not in accordance with this policy will subject the employee to the company's progressive step discipline program.