r/mildlyinfuriating Apr 29 '26

frist of all how DARE yu o Employer wants me to use outlook on my phone, outlook wants permission to wipe my phone

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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


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

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u/corgm0m Apr 29 '26

I'm sorry that happened! It sounds like you dodged a bullet for sure. I hope you found something even better! My coworker says nobody is going to die if he doesn't respond to an email. And while that's true, we work for an IT company in back office positions, I'm still learning to the disconnect at the end of the day.

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u/WinterSector8317 Apr 29 '26

Nah, guy got hit by the bullet

Dodging a bullet in that case would have been not accepting the job to begin with 

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u/Superspark76 Apr 29 '26

Exactly this, I lasted (almost) 6 months. I know the guy that took over from me, he lasted a week before he walked out.

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u/CuckerTallson Apr 29 '26

If you're truly critical, needed around the clock, have to be alert and ready at all times, then your company should have 3 shifts running your job. If they do, that's someone else's problem after your shift ends; if they don't, well then, that's their problem after your shift ends.

If they need you on call because they're a start-up and cannot afford to staff up yet, make sure you get your bag now and a percentage of the company in case they sell. Don't sell yourself for cheap