Navigating Equipment Return Challenges: A Former Big 4 Employee’s Experience

In my journey after leaving a Big 4 firm about ten months ago, I’ve encountered an unexpected hurdle: the return of company-owned laptops. I currently possess two laptops, one of which is no longer functional, and they have become quite the distraction in my home office.

Upon my departure, I completed a return survey where I expressed my need for shipping materials, including a label and boxes, to facilitate the return of these items. Given that I was primarily working remotely, the prospect of traveling 40 minutes to the office just to drop off equipment—along with the added expense of parking—was less than appealing.

After submitting the survey, I waited patiently for the shipping label and boxes to arrive. However, days turned into weeks, and my expectations dwindled. I decided to reach out via phone, but my call was diverted to a different office due to a lack of responses at my location. An employee took down my information, promising a callback, but as you might guess, that never materialized.

Several months have passed since then, and the laptops now clutter my workspace. As I strive to create an efficient environment for my current job, I realize it’s imperative that I return these items. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that the process should not be this cumbersome.

Moving forward, I plan to reach out again, determined to resolve this situation. My hope is that others in similar circumstances can find a smoother path when returning equipment—an often-overlooked aspect of transitioning between roles. Returning company property shouldn’t have to be fraught with difficulty, and I hope sharing my experience will highlight the importance of streamlined processes in corporate settings.