To think is a ridiculous request (work)?

So, what happened then?

You need to give more information about what it actually is ‘monitor etc’ isn’t very clear. They did you a favour in delivering it to you because they wanted you to be able to do your job. However ultimately when you leave it’s your responsibility to return the equipment they have loaned to you. Or you may get charged for it which will probably cost more than the cost for you to return it.

Tell them you will have the equipment ready for a courier to collect - how you received it is how it should be sent back. Do it in an email so that you have proof that you're willing to return, and if copy in your HR dept and your It dept as well.

In my previous role, after my friend left, the company decided they wanted the desk that they had paid for to be returned (bought after the start of covid as we were fully office based prior to that), a £70 IKEA desk, nothing fancy. My friend got the bus to work, and the company could not get it through their head that she couldn't simply fling it over her shoulder and lug it into work. At one point they were planning to have one of the directors drive up from the Scottish Borders to the outskirts of Glasgow, to pick up the desk and take it into the office in Glasgow city centre. Into an offfice, incidentally, that had a full complement of desks and no room for any more!!! Needless to say, they eventually backed off from this idea and allowed her to keep the desk. This summed them up as an organisation to be fair - I do not regret having moved on!!

Do you have proof they agreed to collect it? In an email or similar?
if so respond and say they agreed to collect it and you will box it all up and await details of when it’s being collected.
otherwise surely you have a friend or someone who would drive you to hand it in?

Your responsibility. You have to drop it off.

if they laid you off then they would be responsible.

Tell them a couple of dates they can collect and choose a.m. or p.m. collection, a courier doesn't cost that much. I arrange them all the time when any of my staff leave. Just ensure you are in on the chosen date and time.

This. And have they done a risk assessment?

Does your contract say that you have to return equipment?

If so, YOU have to return it

The employer might pay for a taxi ?

If you need to use public transport (which it sounds like you do) I think it's fair to say that you are unable to carry it.

Maybe they would pay for a taxi? I can't see how loading a monitor into a taxi is any harder than a weekly grocery shop.

Is there any backstory that provides relevant context? Are you leaving ok good terms? Because it sounds like they are being difficult and I wonder whether things have soured.

I would imagine they could deduct from your pay if you don't return it.

If they don't owe you any money, I would just tell them where it is.
If they could deduct the value from final pay, or withhold pay, I'd at least find out the cost of returning it

The OP is making the work equipment available for collection - it's up to the employer to collect the equipment particularly as they delivered it in the first place.

My advice would be to send an email (so there is traceability) and say that you will have the monitor/computer and accessories available for collection from X address but unfortunately due to transportation constraints you are unable to return the equipment in person yourself. Then have it available (preferably in a box of some sort) for whenever they come to collect it.

During the various lock downs we dispatched a whole heap of IT equipment to staff throughout the country and as some of them have moved on, I think it's about a 60/40 or 70/30 split on who can get their old equipment back to us and how many we have to dispatch couriers to.

I would just say that I simply cannot get the equipment back to the office but you will be sure to have it available for them to collect at whatever time suits.

I think legally it’s your responsibility to return property which is the ownership of the company.

reality is if you ignore them/refuse, what will they do about it?

also sounds like your manager is a petty moron, so just courier it and cut your losses and be done. Act like it isn’t an issue, that will annoy him.

I’d refuse stating I am happy to hand over the items, but they need to collect them as they delivered them originally and I am only responsible for them while they are on my premises.

They want the equipment back, you don't care if it goes back. Therefore you hold the power. Just keep refusing.

I'd make it clear that if they want it back in usable condition then they arrange to collect it - you can't guarantee you won't drop it/someone knocks into you and damages it while you lug it across two modes of transport. As you say, it's the very reason you had it in the first place. Doubt contact will cover this sort of detail / situation. Sounds like your (soon to be former) boss is just sore you're leaving ...

Charge them for storage
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Refuse. If they want it back they pay for collection.

I was told to bring my equipment in during covid completely ignoring the advice to start at home unless job required it. Hun didn’t require it as they made me redundant- told them they would have to come and collect.

The last company I worked for requested the same. Was a monitor, laptop and keyboard etc. I wasn’t going into London carrying it all on the tube so I posted it to them with DPD I think. Cost me less than a £10.

they are entitled to withhold pay to cover the equipment, well they were per my contract so just have a read up and be careful.

Say you’ve got a bad back

Do you have an update OP?

Follow all @Fromage instructions to the letter. Very helpful, practical and hilarious!

I had to do this on my last day of my previous job. Had to lug two huge suitcases (2 monitors worth + mouse, laptop etc) across London in rush hour. Not fun!