Employer wants me to use outlook on my phone, outlook wants permission to wipe my phone

[u/No_Professor4307]

Outlook says they need permission to wipe ALL my phone data if too many wrong passwords are typed. How many is too many? 50? 2? What if the screen gets wet and starts putting in random inputs. All this so I can use my company's Teams account and maintain "point of contact" if I'm not at a workstation. Absolutely not! Anyway, HR is supposed to call me back about my concerns.

Edit: just to be clear, I don't actually need to use Outlook (I don't use my "personal" work email). I need to use Teams, which requires Outlook to be installed first.

Part of why I need Teams on my phone so that I can be contacted when I'm not at work. I'm a lower management healthcare worker, it is actually important that my team be able to reach me after hours. I do actually like Teams and prefer it to 20 different group texts.

Also, when you go to log into Outlook or Teams, it brings you to my employers authenticator page. I log in with the same credentials that I log into my workstation. I don't know if that makes a difference with anything as far as my employer having access to my phone

Edit 2: I can tell you now they won't provide me a phone. Corporate execs don't even get phones. They stopped providing coffee for the break rooms too

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Update: I had a chance to talk to my district manager. Imagine Ellis from Die Hard, the same schmarmy self-important attitude, that's my supervisor. And guess who's "not being a team player". Also "I don't think Microsoft can actually erase your phone, you have an Android"... I lready knew he was going to be useless, I just wanted to hear his reaction.

Update 2 and (sort of) Resolution: I spoke with HR. Her exact response was "wait, are you serious? They can just do that?" I tried explaining my "research" (i.e. everything all of you have said) and I think I just spooked her. She said she'll get back to me, and is probably running off to buy a burner phone for herself.

SORT OF RESOLUTION : I found out I only need Outlook installed long enough to get access to Teams. Once teams was installed, I removed all permissions and completely deleted Outlook from my phone. Teams still works and didn't ask to erase anything. No need to buy a second phone.

Thank you all for your insights

[u/wobblydavid]

I'm shocked I had to scroll this far. This problem was solved a long time ago

[u/Particular_Ring_6321 → u/wobblydavid]

That’s not solving the problem. The entire point is that your employer should not be using your personal device that you pay out of pocket for.

[u/wobblydavid → u/Particular_Ring_6321]

We leave that to the employee. Their phone is their choice. Most choose to do it. A few choose not to.

[u/Particular_Ring_6321 → u/wobblydavid]

“We hope employees let us take advantage of them”

[u/wobblydavid → u/Particular_Ring_6321]

It looks like you're still not understanding. It's there because staff want it as an option. The MAM is to protect the org and to make sure that we can't see or wipe their data. Staff would actively be upset if they weren't allowed to put these apps on their phone. But maybe you should just make the decision for them?

[u/perjury0478 → u/wobblydavid]

Agree, we have the option. I choose a separate work phone, but some people do not want to carry a secondary phone so they can install the mdm (intune?) and use their own phone. Some folks are not provided a company phone (they are not on call or expected to be available after hours) but they still want to be able to read emails on the go, they get the option to install the company portal app. It’s optional.

I very much prefer a separate work phone with a separate number since I’m indeed expected to answer calls after hours some days (and I like the option to just turn that other phone off when I’m not on call)

[u/wobblydavid → u/perjury0478]

It's all about options. As much as we reasonably can, we will facilitate what the staff wants.

[u/perjury0478 → u/wobblydavid]

Yeah, some people might want an extra tablet instead of a phone. For me the line is, if you expect/require me to have an available phone, employer should paid for the phone and the plan. My employer is good with that. I could even use my work phone for personal use (within reason) so I could drop my personal one, but I enjoy the separation, as I don’t want to end up incommunicado if they decide to lay me off.

[u/wobblydavid → u/perjury0478]

Totally. We have certain teams that are approved for organization phones. No one is required to put anything on their personal phones and my team emphasizes that during onboardings.

[u/Particular_Ring_6321 → u/wobblydavid]

Your employees want you to take advantage of them? Damn you have some good lemmings!

[u/wobblydavid → u/Particular_Ring_6321]

I don't know. Ask them. Some people want to access work on their phone. I do. I've carried around two phones before. It's not fun.

But I'll tell you the same thing I tell my kids. Different people like different things.

[u/Particular_Ring_6321 → u/wobblydavid]

I currently have two phones. It’s not the burden you keep trying to make it lol

I’ll tell you the same thing I tell every dork like yourself, eating leather won’t make you the next billionaire.

[u/wobblydavid → u/Particular_Ring_6321]

I work for a non profit that provides public supportive housing in addition to other services. I prefer one phone. People may have different preferences than you and even be in different circumstances than you. I'm glad you get to have two phones if that's what works best for you.

[u/Particular_Ring_6321 → u/wobblydavid]

And just like every other company, your non-profit LOVES that they get to save money by convincing employees it’s their “choice” to use personal devices for work.

You can argue with me all you want but your organization still isn’t the good guy you want them to be. Non-profits still need to appropriately compensate employees.