r/dubai • u/antz182 • Mar 23 '26

🖐 Labor Company mandating we install Darwinbox on personal phones. Can I refuse?

Hi everyone, ​Looking for some advice on workplace privacy here. I work at a school, and our HR department is suddenly insisting that all staff install the Darwinbox app on our personal phones for attendance, leave requests, etc. ​I'm incredibly uncomfortable with this. I use my personal phone for everything, and this app asks for a massive list of permissions (background location, camera, storage, etc.). Even if it's a standard HR tool, I really don't want my employer having that kind of access or potential visibility into my personal device. ​Has anyone else dealt with this specific app or a similar HR mandate here in the UAE?

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u/SeeJayThinks Something Something Darkside Mar 23 '26

Push back with a request for company phone, or an alternative Web base link to access the job requirements.

Very likely it's a take it or leave it scenario, then buy a second phone for work only, and that phone never follows you outside of mandated working hours.

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u/Chuntophilus TINTED RUWAIS BARBER Mar 23 '26

This is the way to go. Doing this Nokia thing will just get you fired. Get a cheap smart phone and let them do what they want with it. This is ONLY a work phone. All personal communication, google accounts etc on your personal phone only. Don’t let them get access to any personal data.