The Frustration of Returning Company Equipment: A Cautionary Tale

About ten months ago, I made the significant decision to leave a career at one of the Big Four Accounting firms. As part of my departure, I found myself in possession of two company laptops—one of which is no longer functional. While transitioning to a new role, I’ve realized that these laptops are taking up valuable space in my home office.

When I left the company, I took the proactive step of completing a survey to identify the items I had on hand that needed to be returned. I also specified that I would require a shipping label and boxes for the two laptops, as traveling 40 minutes to the office to return them, along with the expense of parking, was not feasible for me, especially while working primarily from home.

I waited patiently for the shipping materials to arrive, but unfortunately, they never did. After some time, I decided to reach out for assistance. Unfortunately, my call was rerouted to another department because there was no response from my original office. The representative I spoke with took my contact information and assured me that someone would follow up—however, that call never came.

Months have passed since that initial contact, and as I look around my workspace, I realize that I can’t keep allowing these two laptops to clutter my home office. I understand that I should probably make another attempt to reach out, but I can’t shake the feeling that returning company property shouldn’t require this much effort.

If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, it might be time to speak up and reclaim your space. Sometimes, the simplest tasks can turn into frustrating obstacles. Whether it’s through email, phone, or even a visit, don’t hesitate to pursue the resolution you deserve.