To think is a ridiculous request (work)?

[Rizzo8]

Ive been working at a company in the next city for three years. I use two modes of transport to get there.

When I started they delivered all of my equipment like monitor etc direct to my flat recognizing it was too much to pick up.

Now I am leaving they initially offered to pick it up. But now my manager has now given his 2 cents and said he wants me to bring it myself because he doesn't fancy paying for the courier.

AIBU to simply refuse? It's going to be heavy and not easy for me to do this.

Take anything little back on last day like laptop, mouse, keyboard.

if you are being asked to carry a monitor then you may need a risk assessment and manual handling training. Remind your boss that if you get injured carrying it that the company will potentially be liable which will cost them more than a courier.

Your boss is being a twat! Is it a big company with an hr department?

If so stop arguing about it now. On your last day return anything that you can reasonably take on the bus (laptop, phone etc). If your boss says anything say a vague “oh yes, I know you asked, but I couldn’t take a monitor on the bus”.

When you get home that day email hr with a nice email about having enjoyed working for the company. Send a list of things at yours, give your address and some suggestions of days/times and ask them to arrange a courier.

Just say no. Escalate it to their manager, and HR, and ask for a courier to be arranged to collect. It's a small cost to them. Your manager is being petty and vindictive.

No, you aren’t a courier company and not insured for courier work. Clearly state they are free to collect at a convenient time.

They haven’t a leg to stand on once you show you were reasonable.

Tell them you're pregnant and you can't risk carrying heavy equipment

If you don't return the items will the charge you and remove funds from your final pay?

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!

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

Do you have an update OP?

Say you’ve got a bad back

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.

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.

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

Charge them for storage
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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 ...

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Does your contract say that you have to return equipment?

If so, YOU have to return it

The employer might pay for a taxi ?

This. And have they done a risk assessment?