Navigating Equipment Returns After Leaving a Large Firm: A Personal Experience

Leaving a major firm, especially one of the Big Four, can be a significant transition. About ten months ago, I made that leap, and while I smoothly handled many aspects of my departure, there was one area that proved to be frustratingly complicated: returning company equipment.

Upon my exit, I was diligent about completing the necessary survey, which outlined the items I was responsible for returning. Among these was the standard issue of two laptops—one of which is nonfunctional. Given that I mostly worked remotely, I also noted on the survey that a shipping label and boxes would be appreciated, as traveling 40 minutes to the office while incurring parking costs to drop off the equipment was less than ideal.

Despite my proactive approach, I found myself in a waiting game for several weeks. When the shipping materials failed to arrive, I took the initiative to call the office. Unfortunately, my call was rerouted to a different department. The representative I spoke with noted my request and promised a callback that never materialized.

As the months have rolled by, my home office has become increasingly cluttered with these unused laptops. With my current job requiring a more organized workspace, the need to resolve this situation has become paramount. Although I know another call is in my future, it’s disheartening to feel like returning these items is an unnecessarily complicated chore.

This experience serves as a reminder of the complexities that can arise even after you’ve left a company. If you’re in a similar situation, you might consider documenting your communications and follow-ups to keep things moving. Sometimes, the simplest tasks can evolve into an unexpected source of stress.