I find it ridiculous you don't carry spare laptop power supplies everywhere

[-]

lordpiglet@reddit

You know why we don’t have spares, because every time we stock them, everyone and their mother needs to “borrow” one, and then they never return them.

[-]

Moscato359@reddit

My work god a vending machine for IT stuff, and you have to swipe your work badge, so it tracks that you checked it out

If you don't return it, they atleast know it was you who took it, and can atleast attribute the cost of replacement to you and your team

[-]

come_ere_duck@reddit

I want this for my company. We had laptop docks go missing plenty. Turns out the worst culprit was the CEO. I mean like, fair enough, but at least tell us you're taking it.

[-]

I’m going to need you to print another ID badge for me ASAP. I lost it, I don’t know, 2 weeks ago. Or I left it home. Or I ran it through the dryer. Or I used a hole punch to add my own custom lanyard. Or I tried to use the one before the one I’m using now, which lies about losing, and I have no concept that missing badges need to be deactivated.

Anyway, I’ll need that on my desk ASAP and it’s your fault that technology sucks, which is why we’re constantly trying to undermine you and all the procedures in place for safety and security.

[-]

Ha-Funny-Boy@reddit

Over 20 years ago I lost my work badge. I had to pay for a replacement.

I thought perhaps I lost it when I was at my local post office and went there to ask. They didn't have it. Two weeks later I was laid off (Yippee!) A couple of days later I received a call from the post office that they found my badge. I went in and got it. I still have it attached to the wall in my home office. I look at it and laugh.

You ask, Why I said "yippee" and laugh. I worked for that company 2 years. When I was laid off, I was kept on the payroll for 3 months in case they had questions only I could answer. Then I got 2 months severance. I had accumulated a months time off with pay. Then I filed for unemployment and got it for 6 months. I had planed to retire at that time long before I got laid off.

But the best part was I was part of a class action suit against the company. I received about $6,000US in the settlement. So I was a big winner.

[-]

trainbrain27@reddit

To be fair, the majority of them did lose the old one, but then found it.

Only a few think they need two badges and that we will keep both active.

They always learn :)

[-]

MikeLinPA@reddit

Not exactly the same thing, but the higher ranking the person, the more likely to have the power on password taped to the palmrest, after putting other rediculous security rules in place for everyone else to follow.

[-]

DiodeInc@reddit

How is it "fair enough" that he's losing them that much?

[-]

Existential_Racoon@reddit

Man if the ceo wants to take every network cable, power cable and dock I have, I'll say you sure?", then box them for him.

Not my problem, not my fight.

[-]

mercurygreen@reddit

Working at a family-owned business (no snide comments, please - THIS one is AWESOME!) and if one of them needs it, they get it because it's already theirs - and they would ACTUALLY need it because seriously great people.

[-]

arcimbo1do@reddit

The problem is that one of the key roles of the CEO is to set the direction and therefore the culture of the company. Also you should lead by example. Do the math...

[-]

teenagesadist@reddit

If you could go charge all the CEO's a ton of money to teach them this in some sort of small, stifled room perhaps with chains, that'd be fantastic.

[-]

K-o-R@reddit

"Hello Mr CEO. I would like to paly a game..."

[-]

lokis_construction@reddit

If we could just fire all the CEO's the company would have plenty of money to make it successful and pay decent wages to employees.

[-]

MikeLinPA@reddit

This is way too far down the column to get the attention it deserves!

Have an updoot.

[-]

Dougally@reddit

Hah hah! "The culture in any organisation is shaped by the worst behaviours the leader is willing to tolerate".

And the CEO constantly nicks work IT you say?

[-]

OneLessDay517@reddit

If I was following the example of my CEO I'd be more concerned with Instagram likes than actually doing my job, so no thanks.

[-]

Darkk_Knight@reddit

Plus he signs your paycheck.

[-]

come_ere_duck@reddit

Not losing, just taking them home with him without telling us.

[-]

DiodeInc@reddit

That's not as bad but like come on

[-]

Loko8765@reddit

I get the CEO losing things, but docks are like the least lose-able thing?

[-]

come_ere_duck@reddit

We put a newer style one in his office (analog style switched to usb-C style) and he just took it home with him. The office I am in is a satellite office so he took it back to the main office. There was no “lost” docks. I only say they are missing because I didn’t know where they went until my manager explained how there is “one particular” executive that always does this.

[-]

Immortal_Tuttle@reddit

Oh, I had a case of a lady that wanted her desk look tidy for a VIP guest arrival. The only thing left on her desk was her laptop. After the guest leaving her battery was low, so she connected it to the power adapter. Then she requested a dock, because she put a dock and power adapter into the drawer, but at the end of the day only power adapter was in the drawer. My friend went to her with a spare dock and out of curiosity took a look around. Under the drawer unit there was some space. And bingo! TWO decks were stored there. He checked - the dock was almost fitting into the drawer. That lady probably tried to shove it into the drawer, didn't succeed abd frustrated put the dock under the drawer unit in a hurry and totally forgot about it.

[-]

MikeLinPA@reddit

Holy shit! That's brilliant!

I have to hand out ink cartridges and toner cartridges and recoed who got them. I would love this system! (Not that everyone knows what toner they need.)

[-]

Severe_Ad_5914@reddit

This solution gets 11 out of 10 stars.

[-]

Moscato359@reddit

Yep, it's truly great

No human interaction required, and can clearly put blame on people who abuse it

[-]

csjc2023@reddit

Back in the day, we got IT vending machines at the big house of the blue bird. At one all-hands meeting, we were told that employees had consumed 11 pairs of headphones per person. The machines were locked down after that.

[-]

The_Razza7@reddit

Ours have limits on them, there's a yearly spend limit and people can only get one of each item per month.

[-]

Moscato359@reddit

If they scanned badges at vending, they should be able to track who did it

[-]

tarnok@reddit

Link to model please

[-]

ducktape8856@reddit

And a ballpark estimate on total cost please, too.

[-]

Moscato359@reddit

I don't know the details. I've only used it, not was involved with the implementation

[-]

Moscato359@reddit

No idea, sorry

[-]

ITrCool@reddit

My last company started playing with installing this. I got to be in the midst of that project, working with the vending machine company on the software and how it would all work, testing, etc……..then we were bought out and it all ground to a halt.

[-]

sir_mrej@reddit

Is your company in Seattle

[-]

Dustquake@reddit

A client of my company has a system like that. It's a great system. Guarantees stock is available because the system also creates tickets so we can ship replacements for the vending machine.

[-]

sheikhyerbouti@reddit

We don't have any "spares" either.

However a department is always able to buy an extra if they really need it.

[-]

ammit_souleater@reddit

Yup... head of hr of a client just dropped by and asked if we had a spare for her laptop psu. My superior looked at the model and then asked if someone had a compatible psu, mine was the only one... she borrowed that and promised to return it that afternoon... 3 days later I still had no power and needed to head to a different customer because of a network outage. Her office was on the way so I quickly stopped by and asked nicely for my power back. She didn't felt the need. After a quick call with my boss I offered her to send a bill for the psu to her personal address, as well as any lost revenue due to the ongoing outage at customer B. You won't believe how fast I got my psu back.

[-]

lordpiglet@reddit

What a piece of work. I found out that one our execs from a subsidiary won’t return old equipment.

[-]

pcgurupilot@reddit

Happened to me when I was IT Manager in a remote site. The company had issued laptops with docking stations and two power supplies, one for the docking station and one for travelling with. Seagull manager* would fly in for a week, come midday Monday he would wander down to my desk and ask to "borrow" a power supply for his laptop as he had left his home in another state. Of course, at the end of the week, he flew home with my "borrowed" power supply.

A month later, same thing happened, different manager from other state also forgot his power supply, could he "borrow" a spare? Remembering what happened last time, I cable-tied it to his hot desk so it didn't go walkabout. Come mid-week, office manager came to me saying visiting manager needed to go to a customer's place for a presentation and needed the power supply while he was there, so I reluctantly cut the cable-ties and let him take it away. You can guess what happened next. Numpty flew back with my spare power supply. Now I had two laptops with no power supply.

Third time it happened, I flat-out refused, stating if they couldn't remember to bring their power supply, they were out of luck. This caused a huge ruckus with the office manager who ordered me to issue a spare. I referred him to my manager, who (bless him) stood by my decision and also sent out a company-wide email stating this policy Problem stopped happening after that.

* Seagull manager - flies in, squawks a lot, eats all your food, craps over everything, then flies out again.

[-]

dani_pavlov@reddit

Worked in a lab that always needed 3/16" nut drivers for jackscrews. You know, the black-handled ones from every set. In addition to us guys from every other lab would come over to borrow our single one, and we'd have to go hunt it down every time.

Eventually we bought something like 10 of them and put them in the drawer of the shared toolbox. In 3 months' time they were all gone.

[-]

EruditeLegume@reddit

Sounds a bit like 10mm spanners...

[-]

justking1414@reddit

I was way too nice in high school and lent out my charger early in the day and then had to run around looking for whoever I gave it to when the bell rang at the end of the day

[-]

Bladrak01@reddit

I work in a kitchen, and keep a speaker and an old phone to stream music. The charger and cable stay in my office. After several instances of having to go look for it in the morning I made the rule that people can use it, but it doesn't leave the office.

[-]

justking1414@reddit

Good policy.

[-]

stehfan@reddit

Always trade with something they need, like ID or keys.

[-]

SabaraOne@reddit

One of my teachers un middle school traded pencils for shoes. She didn't have much of a shrinkage problem.

[-]

KMjolnir@reddit

That's one thing I'm glad about at my site. They've learned that if I don't get back every cable issued out as a one-day loaner (barring extenuating circustances... like person who has it having a heart attack), their whole department doesn't get any spares until my stuff is returned. Managers tell me when they need it as a result and let me know when they have it to be returned.

[-]

RamblingReflections@reddit

I got every department a set of “things” they’d often request to borrow from me. Chargers, HDMI cables etc. They loved it. Until theirs “went missing” and I could say, “sorry, I don’t keep spares. You all got your own set, and it’s up to you to track and replace anything you lose”. Luckily management was on board or it wouldn’t have worked, but it makes me happy. So happy.

[-]

SuDragon2k3@reddit

Then you get departments doing Ninja raids on other departments for stuff. And it turns out, there's just one thief, everyone else is trying to get their stuff back.

[-]

Solarwinds-123@reddit

Wasn't there a MASH episode about this? I remember Hawkeye trying to chase down missing lunch trays that he had accidentally signed for.

[-]

SuDragon2k3@reddit

And counting the same stack of trays several times?

[-]

meitemark@reddit

Yep, and the thief got a Honorable Discharge 70 year ago.

[-]

fatimus_prime@reddit

there’s just one thief, everyone else is trying to get their stuff back.

Spotted the Marine.

[-]

RamblingReflections@reddit

Underrated comment!! I snort laughed into my cable stash.

[-]

User2716057@reddit

I spent hours each month looking for a tape dispenser. Asked the janitor for a bit of chain, and bolted one to a shelf near my workplace.

That went well for several years until a new guy decided on his second day he needed it and he forced it off so he could use it at his table. I was literally speechless when I came in and found the empty chain.

I'm glad he quit not long after that because there's no coming back from such disrespect.

[-]

Immediate-Season-293@reddit

Holy fuck, the have that kind of support from management ...

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

Ooft that is a good idea

"We need a 2 meter HDMI cable"

"Sure, Cindy down in accounts has your departments spare. Go pick it up from her"

[-]

Intruder313@reddit

I keep mine locked up for a reason :)

[-]

DigitalStefan@reddit

I’ve not needed to borrow a spare PSU for my work laptop, but somehow I still ended up with 2 of them.

One of them now mainly gets used as a charger for my phone.

[-]

trainbrain27@reddit

I find it ridiculous that I carry several USB-C laptop power supplies and a 50 piece converter kit, but it does come in handy in my line of work. The most I've ever had to chain was C to barrel to breakout wires to other barrel, usually I can get by with C to barrel or C to barrel to weird Lenovo rectangle.

All the new stuff has been C for a few years, but you know how client equipment is.

[-]

CinnamonBlue@reddit

“Sure I’ll call Manager and let him know you didn’t take your laptop power supply to offsite where you would 100% need it and that you’ll not be working for several hours because you didn’t take necessary equipment required for you to do your job.”

[-]

EmperorGeek@reddit

Proper Prior Power Planning Prevents Piss Poor Portable Performance Problems!!

[-]

Chakkoty@reddit

I wonder if this counts as /r/increasinglyverbose ?

[-]

Tech-Priest-IRL@reddit

Perfectly Put!

[-]

TheyCalledMeThor@reddit

As a former IT Director, I used to bask in flipping the script on end users trying to make us the scapegoat.

[-]

sunnyspiders@reddit

This is the way.

“Sure, buddy. Documented.”

[-]

slackerdc@reddit

I can call them but I have to warn you I'll make you sound like a complete idiot is that okay or would you rather call them instead?

[-]

fshannon3@reddit

Everyone that has a laptop here and works on-site has a dock to connect to. If they're in the field using their power supply and they lose it, we'd have to order them another one.

But the worst is when an on-site employee forgets to bring their LAPTOP in to work with them. "Can I get a loaner for the day?" As if we had loaners just at the ready for them. Then when we do provide one, it's a very basic setup just to get them by for the day...sometimes they've asked where all their data and bookmarks were.

[-]

Diminios@reddit

sometimes they've asked where all their data and bookmarks were.

"On your work laptop. The one you left at home. Good luck!"

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

I knew there was a reason I kept this Celeron based laptop from 2013.

It's now the spare loan laptop.

[-]

fshannon3@reddit

Now that's cruel. Please tell me it has a 5400 RPM HDD and 4 GB RAM.

But a surefire way to make them remember their laptop next time!!

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

I think it's 2GB RAM actually

[-]

fshannon3@reddit

Even better!

[-]

Elestriel@reddit

I somehow forgot my power supply on my most recent flight, and apparently it "couldn't be found".

When the hell did these little bastards get so expensive to replace!?

[-]

pisandwich@reddit

Most laptops charge with type C these days, you dont have to go oem to get a high quality power supply. Something like a 45w type c brick can keep most all laptops going and charge while in use. Anker 313 is like 20 bucks.

My dell came with a 65w barrel plug charger but i just use a 45w type c charger and it seems to charge at the same speed. The laptop only draws 25w while under heavy load anyways.

[-]

lincolnjkc@reddit

I'm using a Dell Precision that wants a Dell 130W type C.

On the trip I'm currently flying home from I distinctly remember wrapping the cord up to put it in my bag...but apparently I spaced out and didn't actually put it in my bag. Where I was going Best Buy was the only option so I found the beefiest generic type C adaptor they had in stock (claims 145W on port 1), did an in-store pickup and ... Laptop bitches every time I turn it on that it doesn't like not having its precious OEM adapter. But at least it charges. But at a bit noth of $100 I want to know what kind of magic and unicorns I'm paying for...)

[-]

pisandwich@reddit

Im just using a basic dell latitude with a ryzen 4500u. I was using hwinfo64 to view the actual wattage being consumed while charging, i can only get 25w out of a 45w type C PPS charger, and the stock 65w brick also only does 25w unless i use the dell power manager app to set it to "express" charging. Then it does 45w, still not fully utilizing the 65w barrel plug charger.

I wonder how much of that stock 130w charger it can use. Apparently dell requires their oem power type C power supplies to exceed 100w, because its beyond the type C power delivery spec. I do wonder if it can even pull >100w to begin with though.

[-]

lincolnjkc@reddit

I'm not seeing (or not smart enough to understand what I'm seeing) actual wattage consumption on my Precision (5570).

I usually run it pretty gently relative to what it can do but when I'm pushing it -- particularly with GPU intensive stuff that pulls the dedicated GPU into action (vs. the iGPU that does 99% of the lifting) or long CPU-intensive stuff like complex compiles -- everything including the brick gets nice and toasty.

I thought the type C PD spec topped out at 100W but the after-market one I picked up in a pinch (here)[https://en.j5create.com/products/jup37185] claims to do 140W on type C as PD 3.1 -- my guess is my current laptop is just a little too old to know what PD 3.1 is.

[-]

pisandwich@reddit

If youre curious, theres a free app called hwinfo64 that can show the real time power consumption. If your precision has a dedicated gpu, i could see it hitting 100w while being stressed. Typically the mobile gpus have a tdp of like 60-70w.

[-]

Screamline@reddit

Dell's bitch about the power supply being too low on boot. You can ok it to finish booting into Windows and I'm sure it's fine.

[-]

TheBoysNotQuiteRight@reddit

You can often turn off that "complain about low power on boot" warning message in the BIOS, and never have to see it again.

[-]

Screamline@reddit

I know. But I leave it on since my user's should probably know, lot of them are engineers doing CAD so they need the power

[-]

dwhite21787@reddit

Because a type C charger uses a communication port, if you’re a fed you can’t go buy a cheap one, it has to be CIO approved so that’s gonna be OEM

[-]

timtjtim@reddit

Can’t you just use a power-only C-C cable?

[-]

dwhite21787@reddit

Yep, if the CIO has approved the make and model.

If the IT security office hasn’t ok’ed a specific USB C device, and you go rogue and use it, that’s a paddlin’ and possibly a revoking of your IT use.

[-]

Elestriel@reddit

I'm using a Surface, and while charging over USB-C is possible, it's slow as hell. A new charger in Canada was $170, but when I got back home I was able to find one for like 11,000 Yen, which would be about $100 Canadian. And it was the 125 Watt, for slightly less than the 65 Watt on sale. I really like the OEM charger because it has a USB port on it, so I can charge two things at once with it.

[-]

iggzy@reddit

I have Surface 8 and USB charges that plenty fast. But I also have a like. $15 USB-C to Surface adapter off Amazon from when I owned a Surface Pro 4 before

[-]

joule_thief@reddit

Not that it helps you now, but we deploy Surface laptops at work and these work very well: https://www.amazon.com/Surface-Charger-Microsoft-Compatible-Laptop/dp/B0BW41H1W2

[-]

Moonpenny@reddit

Amazon US has the full size charger for $27 currently, or you can get a cord that plugs into a type C jack on one side and has the magnetic stick thing for Surface for $13. If you just want to carry one good brick and a few type C cables, the C-to-surface is a nice option.

Given the price, I keep a 65W travel charger in my work bag and the full size one in a backpack.

[-]

Elestriel@reddit

Honestly with the surface, I prefer OEM. I've been burned (figuratively) by off brand stuff on these things. :(

[-]

pisandwich@reddit

Ah yeah, with a surface i would want the magnetic charger anyways.

Frequently slow charging with type C indicates the charger doesnt support the PPS subset of the PD protocol, the nicer chargers will specify their PPS wattage vs regular PD. Samsung phones wont charge at 45w without a proper PPS compliant power brick, then the cable also has to be rated for higher amps. Typically, the 100w cables are good for 5a at 20v.

[-]

badlucktv@reddit

Can confirm, SP8 and later can charge at ~100w no worries over USB-C.

[-]

hackmiester@reddit

I can’t say i’ve experienced slow Type-C charging on my SP9. Could you have a bad cable or a wimpy power supply maybe?

[-]

Elestriel@reddit

It's absolutely a wimpy power supply. I was using my phone's, and getting about 22 Watts.

[-]

Ohrgasmus1@reddit

You can thank the EU later for that

[-]

pisandwich@reddit

Im pretty stoked about their recent legislation that will force electronics to have replacable batteries again.

[-]

manystripes@reddit

The official ones are expensive but there are usually offbrand bricks for pretty cheap for whatever combination of voltage/connector your laptop might want. Switching power supply tech isn't expensive but name brand accessories almost always are.

[-]

needlenozened@reddit

My laptop uses a USB-C charger and they're like $13 on Amazon. I have one in practically every room in the house. I can also use them for my phone.

[-]

FoxtrotSierraTango@reddit

Last time I went on vacation I took 1 USB-C charger. It covered my laptop, my Nintendo Switch, my headphones, and my phone. I love standards...

[-]

dustojnikhummer@reddit

Get a 27k mAh 60W power bank. Just large enough to be allowed onto flights

[-]

WildMartin429@reddit

Before we were 100% remote I had a dock at work with a dedicated power supply, a dock at home with a dedicated powersupply and I left the 65 watt charger that came with the laptop in the laptop bag, along with an Ethernet cable (10 ft), an HDMI cable, and a VGA cable so I'd be prepared for possible non ideal remote work situations.

[-]

Turnipton@reddit

I like to think you wore the cables like Chewie wears his bandolier.

[-]

SpinelessChordate@reddit

this is the way

[-]

yrabl81@reddit

Something similar happened to me long time ago. Found out I forgot the laptop power supply, so I just went to a computer store in the area and bought a new one.

The client site was abroad and I didn't actually forgot it, it got ruined dieting my travels.

[-]

af_cheddarhead@reddit

Work laptops should come with two docking stations, one for use when in the office and one for use when working from home. Because I'm not transporting the docking station and I'm also not using a fucking laptop keyboard, trackpad and screen for an 8-hour workday at either location.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

At my workplace, IT equipment is charged back to the user's cost centre.

You could have 100 docking stations if you wanted, all I care about is that it's properly approved by a relevant approver for that cost centre.

[-]

Hebrewhammer8d8@reddit

What does he need to do on the Laptop that he can't do on Desktop?

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

Not really sure. Probably just setup the way they like, and don't want to deal with setting up Outlook, OneDrive etc.

[-]

Doc_Hank@reddit

Lack of proper planning on your part something something

[-]

archfapper@reddit

Our CIO: "We shall never deny a guest, even the most ridiculous request."

[-]

llamakins2014@reddit

I love seeing spongebob quotes out on the wild. But also I agree, users have a customer is always right attitude in a field that doesn't work that way.

[-]

st33p@reddit

Everyone always forgets the last and most important part of that saying: "The customer is always right in matters of taste"

Otherwise, the customer is often wrong.

[-]

bulldzd@reddit

Otherwise, the customer is often wrong.

otherwise, the customer is ALWAYS wrong... and usually an ignorant entitled clown....

FTFY.... my version is more accurate, unfortunately.....

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

\^ This

[-]

InShambles234@reddit

I would 100% call that person's manager for them. Hell the dude could have easily come up with some BS to tell his boss.

"Hey boss. Dumbass just called me because he forgot his required computer equipment and has to go home. He said he'll be missing some time. I'm not sure why he didn't call you to inform you but he asked me to do it. His phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Have a good one."

[-]

xsnyder@reddit

I have a power supply that I don't take out of my bag precisely for this reason.

[-]

bobnla14@reddit

Lost power supply?

Are you at a hotel? Business hotel?

Call to the front desk and see if anyone turned in your "misplaced" power supply for a Dell/HP/Lenovo/Mac?

Yes I can come down and look at what you have

Thanks!!

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

I remember leaving a pair of sunglasses at my local barber.

When I came back asking if I left them there, he opened a drawer literally full of sunglasses.

"Any of these yours?"

I got about 10 extra pairs of sunglasses that day, plus the ones I lost.

[-]

Sensitive_Yellow_121@reddit

My company always gives you two power supplies for your laptop. One is a docking station with a power supply and the other is just a power supply that you can carry with you.

[-]

sorry_for_the_reply@reddit

Spare anything is under lock and key at every site now. There are prices associated with all spare gear. You take one and not return it? Off your next paycheck. Want to return it after it's been deducted from your paycheck? Sorry, you now own it. I have already purchased a replacement for inventory.

Funny how people start taking better care of their stuff after they get $50 deducted because they 'forgot something at home' and aren't grown up enough to return something they 'only need for today'.

[-]

deadsoulinside@reddit

Spare anything is under lock and key at every site now.

I honestly hate these policies. It encourages cannibalizing other workstations when something breaks. I lost my shit a few times at a former workplace over this. I was a hybrid worker and the amount of times I return to the office to find things at my desk missing was insane. I had my external monitor taken another time, I have had a cord for the monitor stolen, I even had my own personal cell phone charger I kept there stolen. Each time "Oh I did not realize anyone used that station". Like what on earth allows you to think that a phone charger is a company issued item and was OK to take?

[-]

Ich_mag_Kartoffeln@reddit

Because it was at the unused work station! /s

[-]

PatrykBG@reddit

Not for nothing, if you don’t have a few spare laptop chargers at every office, it’s kinda your fault as a sysadmin, because a spare costs maybe 30 bucks but hours of lost productivity cost far more.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

We have over 80 sites that are small (10 PCs or less), use desktops only and get visits from users who use laptops maybe 4 to 5 times a year. Really, our head office and regional offices have laptop users.

At the moment, there are 2 main laptop types, one using USB-C and the other using a barrel plug (they have USB-C too, but don't support charging with USB-C).

So each location would really need at least 2 chargers, one of each type. $60 x 80 sites, that's $4800 right there. And that assumes no one "forgets" to return them, they mysteriously disappear, or can't be found when needed.

99% of the time, users remember their charger, or at least can just jump on a spare desktop, so really it's an event that happens maybe once or twice a year.

Even at $30 a charger, the cost/benefit ratio just isn't worth it.

[-]

PatrykBG@reddit

I don’t see how you can write so much and yet be that bad at basic math.

You cost the company probably $150 (assuming that executive was being paid $50 an hour), and if there were other people waiting on him, that cost them time too. If this type of visit happens only 4 to 5 times a year per office, that’s 320 visits. If we assume a 5% forget rate for chargers, that’s 16 chargers over the course of the year ($480) but over $2400 of lost productivity minimum. You’d save after the third year.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

If we assume 5% forget rate (and we are told when these are used and need replacing) it could make sense.

1% would probably be a better figure to assume based on how frequently this actually happens.

[-]

PatrykBG@reddit

You have a much better set of executives then. I gave a much lower rate than I've experienced, and quite honestly the "drawer of adapters" is one of the biggest lifesavers in all of the jobs I've ever done. Granted, I've always enforced laptop only policies as well, so that's already a different beast.

[-]

googleflont@reddit

Fun fact:

Really Big TriState Transit Authority near me found that they were losing lots of money on tools. The engineers that were working on the system were given a toolkit with generic stuff: hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. if they lost a tool, it was replaced.

But the really big and special tools ( 6’ long wrenches, hi voltage stuff, god knows what you need to work on electric trains) had to be signed out.

In order to stop the bleeding, rules were changed so that ALL tools had to be signed out.

Repairs and maintenance slowed to a crawl as everyone spent half a day or more queuing for tools.

Finally, an analysis showed that for every new employee, a certain average dollar amount of lost tools/money was happening. Essentially each new employee was filling up his home toolbox, until they had stuff at home and at work. Then they didn’t need anything more, so no more leakage.

So management decided, given that signing out every tool wasn’t working, that they would just “absorb“ the cost.

When I worked at Medium Size Independent School, certain employees (meaning Administrators) were given unlimited laptop power supplies. And whatever else they wanted. Regardless of whose budget it came from (mine).

[-]

kuldan5853@reddit

Sometimes you have to accept that letting people steal small stuff is worth more in added morale than the cost of the item / the cost of preventing the losses.

We have also introduced IT cabinets at certain offices that are stocked with keyboards, webcams, mice, chargers etc. and of course there's some shrinkage... but investing the money to actually secure those via a vending machine for instance is more expensive than just eating the costs if someone wants to take a $30 webcam for home.

[-]

doIIjoints@reddit

good on you for not taking any shit. i swear management expects their underlings to do anything at any time.

[-]

Nanocephalic@reddit

It’s a valid request. Spares should be available. It’s one of the reasons for standardising on a particular vendor.

Even more so now that monitors can act as usb-c chargers.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

We have lots of small sites that use desktops only, so while having spare laptop chargers at all sites (and making sure they are replaced when used) would be nice, it's just not economically viable for the 4 to 5 visits they get a year from laptop users.

Common things like keyboards, mice, network cables, etc each site usually has spares.

The monitors with inbuilt USB-C chargers do sound like a good idea.

[-]

rusty-droid@reddit

This raises a question: where they provided a spare charger by the company?

If not, and they are moving between multiple work places, it's to be expected that they will forget the charger from time to time. Not having a spare in that scenario just just as much a failure from the company than from that person.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

Yes, laptops are always issued with (at least) 1 charger and a laptop bag, so users can charge them at home or otherwise offsite, as well as carry the laptop and charger together.

They also have the option to acquire extra chargers and docking stations, charged back to their cost centre.

[-]

koosley@reddit

Or why is it even needed? Laptops now easily last 6 to 10 hours and if all you're using is outlook, it'll last all day. I don't bother bringing my laptop charger either, though my onsite visits are usually for meetings and not actual working on a laptop.

[-]

markhadman@reddit

I've seen/heard plenty of people use 'exasperated' when they mean 'exacerbated', but congratulations, this might be the first time I've seen the opposite.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

Me fail English? That's unpossible.

[-]

Hot-Win2571@reddit

When I'm packing my laptop bag, I always pack its power supply first.

[-]

K1yco@reddit

Caller: "I find it ridiculous that you don't have spares

And I find it ridiculous you're not better prepared to perform your job.

[-]

thepfy1@reddit

The number of people we have who go to another site and 'forget' their charger. This particularly happens with the directors...

The one they 'borrow' never gets returned.... ... the beancounters and ICT director question why we having to keep buying laptop chargers.

Personally, I have always bought myself a spare charger which I keep at home. The supplied charger stays in my laptop bag. It's very, very rare I forget this charger.

[-]

Inprobamur@reddit

Thankfully EU Commission will solve this issue, they have mandated that all laptops under 330W will have to be sold with a USB-C charger starting 2026.

[-]

big_whistler@reddit

How does that solve someone forgetting their charger at home and going where there are no spares

[-]

Inprobamur@reddit

USB chargers common, you can get one from any store and most people and workplaces have some lying around.

[-]

The_Real_Flatmeat@reddit

Because you can get a usb-c cable from a servo these days

[-]

meitemark@reddit

We are going to see a lot of tiny and cheap laptops that are rated for 331W.

[-]

Refflet@reddit

Not only that, but you can even plug a USB-C charger into a USB-C port of a laptop that uses a barrel charger and it will charge.

[-]

iwantthisnowdammit@reddit

Won’t most laptops limp along on a phone charger now?

[-]

xFayeFaye@reddit

Aren't there like 8 different protocols and depending on what you have you might just fry your laptop?

I wiki'd it because I'm so paranoid about those things: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C#Compatibility_issues

[-]

iwantthisnowdammit@reddit

Yeah, however, basic 3a/5v will keep my laptops alive in such away that maybe it will deprecate battery levels, or maybe just hold them. In sleep they’ll charge slowly, but charge.

When I travel, I take a PD block and use it for my phone as well.

[-]

meitemark@reddit

Only if you remove the powercord to a important server to plug in your charger.

[-]

_Volly@reddit

Have cameras in the office. When shit goes missing, look at the cameras. It is AMAZING how when you have a sign that says cameras are there to deter theft and to insure who has what - nothing goes missing.

Cameras work great in break rooms as well. Had a food thief. put in a camera and a sign that said they were on America's funniest home videos. Stopped the thief right in their tracks.

[-]

Dranask@reddit

Had this at school teachers would expect me to find a charger or borrow without asking a colleague’s then take it home, forgetting to return it the next day. Very entitled.

[-]

the_syco@reddit

"According to the GPS data on your phone, you are still at home. Did you wake up late?"

[-]

mlk@reddit

iT isn't the business police

[-]

meitemark@reddit

More like an off-shot of NSA.

[-]

VplDazzamac@reddit

What I find ridiculous is that the user doesn’t have a spare power supply living permanently in their laptop bag.

[-]

Refflet@reddit

Fun fact: even if your laptop doesn't normally charge over USB-C you can usually plug a charger into its USB-C port and charge it that way.

[-]

DutchDrunk88@reddit

Praise to you and your kind. How you deal with these people is beyond my comprehension. And I’m a smart dude

[-]

SGTFragged@reddit

Everyone wants on hand spares, phones, laptops, power supplies etc. As soon as you bring up paying for things to sit there, gathering dust, as a spare, no one wants to pay for it...

[-]

LordLandis@reddit

Or they complain about constantly replacing spares b/c employees keep walking off with them.

[-]

hache-moncour@reddit

Thank goodness for usb-c power delivery though, makes sharing/borrowing power bricks a lot easier. At my job we're making sure any new monitors we get have usb-c power delivery, so after a while there's not even a need to bring your charger, just plug in a screen and go to work.

[-]

arcimbo1do@reddit

"Sure, can you give me his personal phone number?" Collecting managers phone numbers is a sport, it might be useful if they become VP or something

[-]

Sirbo311@reddit

The sales people at my last place would just straight up steal power cords from their coworkers desks/docking stations because 'they forgot theirs'. People would come in for second shift in the call center and their laptop on the dock would boot, but none of their things plugged into the dock worked. 0.o

We ended up having a few 'amnesty' days. Return the stuff to sirbo311's (IT guy) desk and no questions will be asked.

[-]

Fryphax@reddit

Why the hell do they not have a docking station at their desk?

[-]

Rathmun@reddit

It's not clear from the story, but my guess would be that their desk isn't at the remote site, and they forgot their charger because they don't normally need it when they're at the main site with a dock on their desk.

That's my guess because I've done that exact thing before.

[-]

Fryphax@reddit

Ahh, that makes sense.

I've done the same thing before too. Now I have a charger that lives in my go bag. Use Docks every where else.

[-]

speddie23@reddit (OP)

Correct

At that site, they are all desktop PCs, not desks with docks.

The user's usual site uses desks with docks, but not the location they were visiting.

[-]

Tapidue@reddit

Well played

[-]

zrad603@reddit

My pet peeve is when I would be on-site at one of our remote locations, and someone would come up to me: "Hey, could I get a replacement keyboard?"

"Yeah, I just drive around with a trunk full of keyboards."

Fucker, if you just put in a fucking ticket, we would have sent you one through inter-company mail, it would have gotten to you next day at the latest.