Navigating Equipment Returns: My Experience After Leaving a Big4 Firm

Leaving a prominent firm like Big4 can be a significant transition, as I discovered about ten months ago. One of the unexpected challenges I faced was figuring out the process for returning company property—specifically, two laptops, one of which is unfortunately non-functional.

Upon my departure, I took the necessary step of filling out a survey indicating the equipment I needed to send back. I also requested shipping labels and boxes to facilitate the return, as commuting 40 minutes back to the office, not to mention parking fees, was not a practical option for me. I anticipated a straightforward process, hoping to receive the shipping materials soon after my request.

After a period of waiting without any updates, I decided to follow up with a phone call. To my surprise, my call was redirected to a different office due to the unavailability of my initial contact. The representative took my information and promised that someone would return my call; however, that promise never materialized.

Months have passed, and I’m now at a point where these two laptops are taking up valuable space in my home office, which I need for my current role. While I recognize that a follow-up call is in order, I can’t help but feel that returning company property shouldn’t be this complicated.

As I navigate the intricacies of returning equipment, I can’t help but wonder if anyone else has faced similar challenges. If you have experiences with returning equipment after leaving a job, I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice!