The Challenge of Returning Company Property: A Personal Experience

Ten months ago, I made the decision to leave one of the Big Four Accounting firms. Since then, I have found myself in an unusual predicament: I still possess two laptops that belong to the company, one of which is non-functional.

When I departed, I took the initiative to fill out a survey that outlined the equipment I had on hand and indicated that I would require shipping labels and boxes to return the laptops. Given that I was primarily working from home, making a 40-minute journey to the office—complete with parking fees—felt unnecessary and inconvenient.

After a few weeks of waiting patiently for the return shipping materials, I decided it was time to follow up. Unfortunately, my call was routed to a different office, and although I provided my contact information, I never received a callback.

Fast forward a few months, and those laptops have become a cluttering presence in my home office. As I’ve settled into my new job, the need for a streamlined workspace has grown increasingly urgent.

I recognize that reaching out again is probably the best course of action, but I can’t help feeling frustrated by how challenging the process of returning company property has become. It shouldn’t be this complicated to return items that no longer belong to me.

If anyone else has faced similar hurdles in returning company-owned equipment, I’d love to hear your stories and any tips you might have for navigating this frustrating experience!