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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you ever kept work equipment?

65 replies

StillHasTheMouse · 15/09/2025 19:29

I’m talking laptops, monitors, phone chargers, that kind of thing. Maybe you weren’t asked to return it or maybe it was just… quietly forgotten. Or maybe you did hand everything back but kept something small like a branded mug or office stationery.

Be honest, have you ever kept work equipment after leaving a job? And AIBU to think most people have, even if they won’t admit it?

OP posts:
Dolamroth · 15/09/2025 19:55

A big calculator with a roll to print. They were closing down and boss said you might as well take it. It's really good!

DameSylvieKrin · 15/09/2025 19:54

I have a £750 dictionary from a previous job. I did ask them whether they wanted the books back when I left and they said no. I just didn’t specify exactly what books they were.

supportergirl · 15/09/2025 19:53

I accidentally kept a laptop from an old job - when I left I was in extremely poor health (on a MH section) and it just never got given back... Only discovered I had it still 3 years after I left

MyLimeGuide · 15/09/2025 19:53

Ive still got an iPad from a school I worked in 8 years ago! Oops!

Susannipper · 15/09/2025 19:52

Yeah I have some NHS laminating pouches

YesIDidIt · 15/09/2025 19:51

Define not, I’ve got enough of my own clutter going on.

brunettemic · 15/09/2025 19:49

Other than my desk my entire home setup (chair, 2 monitors, keyboard, docking station, webcam, all cables, headset if I need it) are all from my precious 2 roles. Laptop is my current job obviously.

Bananachimp · 15/09/2025 19:48

Loads of stationery and my headset as they weren't reused/shared. But there's no way you couldn't not return your laptop and even if you didn't everything would be shut down and it would be unusable.

itsmeits · 15/09/2025 19:46

Nope but 10 years ago DP was tasked with fleet and phones.
One conversation he told me about.
Hi Mr abc you worked for xyz 4 years ago, can you please return the company phone.... oh oh okay you dont have it any more... hmm yes.... OK. Don't worry about the phone Mr abc, I must inform you this phone number will be being cut off in 28 days..... I'd apologise however xyz has been paying your bill for the last hmmm 7 years and you left 4 years ago yes?
So may people left his old work place and took the phone with them, bills were paid for years.

My current work place wiped the old laptops then gave them out for free to staff, same with the tables when we got new 2 years ago.

AndSoFinally · 15/09/2025 19:44

we used to go home with pockets full of scissors at the end of an A&E shift back in the day when suture kits were single use disposable items

They are amazing quality and I’ve still got several pairs 20 years later

SusanChurchouse · 15/09/2025 19:40

I have a chair I was given for home working during Covid and I suspect if I ever left the job it wouldn’t be cost effective to return it. I have a few bits of merch from a workplace that I keep for sentimental reasons because I really liked the job. Just branded pens, tote bag and the like.

Queen0fTheNorth · 15/09/2025 19:34

When I left a job earlier this year they didn't ask for the monitors back. They were only 2 years old but I think they decided it wasn't worth the cost of couriering them back to the office. They didn't want anything back other than the laptop.

Noshadowsinthedark · 15/09/2025 19:32

There’s a huge difference between a laptop and some stationery.

I might have had a biro or something which was from the office but never deliberately and nothing more expensive.

I would be surprised at an organisation not noticing a missing laptop.

Zanatdy · 15/09/2025 19:30

Our work you can’t return anyway, apart from the laptop (which is restricted as government dept). But desks, chairs, monitors etc for home working, there isn’t a process for returning.

Allelbowsandtoes · 15/09/2025 19:30

Never, because the NHS are so tight 😅

I do have quite a few NHS issues cheap pens at home though.