Resigning and return of work equipment

[ann4812]

Unfortunately I have resigned from my job, been there a long time but things have changed the past couple of years and I’ve found myself more and more unhappy and stressed.

I have been signed off with work related stress, during which I have resigned, due to finding another job that hopefully will be better. My sick note runs to the end of my notice so u won’t be returning now.

Within 2 days of resigning, I have been contacted multiple times by supervisors, HR, colleagues stating that my work equipment (laptop, uniform, access card etc) needs to be returned within 2 days. My notice period runs for a month.

I am aware that this is company property and will need returning, and I am of course planning to do so. But AIBU to find this a bit much when I’m off with work related stress for them to be demanding everything back straight away?

For context, I’ve genuinely been unwell, although I have a new job I am down about the end of my career as I thought it was going to be. Where I need to return my equipment to is over an hour from me, and I am likely going to need someone to come with me to support me due to how I feel about work at the moment and the anxiety it’s causing me and has caused me.

I have obviously not been using my work equipment while I have been off sick and don’t plan to do so, it’s just the pressure being put on me within days to get it back. AIBU or is this normal?

Take it all in, have them sign a receipt, and be done with it.

I would offer options of they send a courier now or you return it in a few weeks when you feel better. Employers are allowed employees whilst they are off sick but it must be reasonable and not hounding. Multiple contacts in 2 days sounds unreasonable and hounding. Contact on at least 2 or more separate occasions can constitute harassment which they have done. She is still employed by them and is on sick leave, l think they are just being dicks and making a point

Since you resigned I assume they have terminated you immediately, although you will get the pay due, so they want their stuff back. Can you ask them to pick it all up if you are not well enough to take it in?

And she is still their employee 🙄

I was in a similar situation. I was asked to return equipment at a time when no-one else was in the office and an admin assistant would meet me there - they didn't want me speaking to other colleagues or them asking questions about my departure as it was an NDA situation.

In your situation I would ask for a courier to be arranged to collect your things. There shouldn't a security issue if everything is packed up and logged off.

This! You're your own worst enemy OP. Stop faffing around, get it done then you can stop worrying about it. It may be difficult to do but it's not magically going to get easier. Go in on Monday, hand the stuff over, forget about them.

Clearly they want their equipment back and it would be remiss of them not to ask. The 2 days is weird though given normally one keeps equipment until the last day. Will they be sending a courier?

Yes, but this would be going back to the same environment.

Also, it's not always the case that if someone is off sick because of a work problem that they would be immediately fine the moment they resign, is it? I can imagine it could take some time.

I presume she won't be starting her new job until the notice period of this current one is up.

Some of the responses here are awful and show that the posters have no idea what it is like to have work stress so severe that it is impossible to go in and also that the damage it can do to your mental health can/does continue after resigning. If you have not been in that situation, perhaps consider not giving advice. OP tell them they need to arrange a courier and I hope things get better for you so that you can take up your new position x

No, she said she's off sick during her notice period so I presume she hasn't been terminated.

If you are off sick and won't be using the equipment then I think they are within their rights to ask you to retunn it. But 2 days is very short notice. A week would have been fairer. If I was your boss I would expect you to make arrangements for the return of equipment. You have managed to line up a new job which is what I'd be thinking. As an individual I sympathise but they're a business and want their stuff back.

I agree, they might need the equipment for their new employee.

And , unpopular opinion warning , if it was me and my employee who was off sick with stress but still managed to get themselves an interview and an offer of a new job was making a song and dance about returning my equipment I might be a bit pushy too.

Some very hard nosed people here. You are aware you don’t need to be like this?

Welcome to MN

Security is a huge thing where I work and laptops and sensitive items are couriered all the time.

Just say you’re too unwell to take the items back yourself, but happy for the company to arrange a courier collection at your home. At their expense, of course.

It’s standard policy in civil service as part of exit

I do have lots of sympathy for op but I also have sympathy for the employer. They are trying to operate a business/organisation and having people being paid/holding resources but not working is very costly. Yes they need to be considerate to op’s needs but at the same time they can’t let people take advantage. (Otherwise the knock on impact is stress to others)

I still technically work there for another 3 weeks.

Why do you keep putting “off sick” in quotation marks. Just say it with your chest.

If it’s medical notes and electronics I send and receive them weekly through a secure courier, it’s allowed as long as the boxes are sealed. I’d honestly just do that then you can draw a line under it and never have to go back.

It's not hard-nosed, it's just life.

The OP has to return stuff she doesn't own.

Fannying around telling her it's impossible or too stressful or she shouldn't have to do it because she's sick but not so sick she can accept another job is why society is in such a state with self-identified disabled people who think not wanting to do something because it's uncomfortable or inconvenient should be supported as evidence of illness.

It's not.

She entered into an employment contract and part of that was she was supposed to return the property of the employers. When they request it. Or she insists she won't and they have to collect it or she can send it by courier.

It's really not a big ask. She doesn't have to do a shift down a mine or go to a workplace where she was tortured, she just needs to hand stuff back to a job where she felt stressed. It doesn't matter if it's an hour away or if it makes her feel sad, she's a grown up in a civil service job and all she has to do is hand over some stuff.

FFS.

They should send a courier to collect.

What @ThatPeachQuail is saying is that the condition for which you are off sick (ie stress relating to a particular job) no longer applies, as you are not returning to said stressful job. The cause of your incapacity has gone.

I think you should just return the stuff, then they’ll stop pestering you, and you can move on with your life, without this hanging over you.

You're 'off sick' in quotation marks because it was related to your workplace.

But you're not actually unable to work through sickness because you've taken another job.

So you're not 'sick' are you?

Thank you to everyone who has been kind and understood. I’ve also taken on board all the other perspectives.

I have explained earlier how I have come to have another job, I certainly haven’t been looking for another job or interviewing while I have been off ill- I interviewed for this job in February. I’ve been looking for a new job for a while as I knew things were going downhill there. It’s not a me thing, I think 90% of my team are really unhappy and either waiting for imminent retirement or actively looking to more elsewhere.

My laptop won’t be going to anyone else- my laptop is due for replacement/upgrade (had an email to make an appointment for it to be replaced shortly before I went off).

I get along with my colleagues well and some of them have now offered to meet me to help with the collection/hand over of items so I might do that rather than go into the workplace.