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?

Yes she does, when off sick, an employee should not be stressed and harassed by their employer, contact should be reasonable, they owe the employee a duty of care.

The OP can suggest they come and collect the equipment, other wise wait until well again.

Well given that I didn't get personal, call anyone names, accuse anyone of anything, write passive aggressive responses and make sweeping generalisation in my posts I am comfortable with my conclusions too. Being proud of that crown - laughable.

I appreciate your response however it is a bit naive I feel. From going through this myself I’ve come to learn that many things do get “swept under the carpet”. Where I work senior management are mostly men.

I don’t think being sent copious amounts of unsolicited sexual messages on social by someone 20+ years my senior, who I didn’t even have as a friend, asked them to stop and they didn’t- is really that open to interpretation. I’ve since found out it’s not the first time this person has done similar behaviour. But apparently people are allowed to make advances towards other people or else how would anyone ever meet and get in a relationship 🙄

I have taken advice about going to employment tribunal but to be honest I don’t want to, I just want to get out of there and move on with my life.

As for the comment about why wouldn’t I just move. Well I loved my role and was good at it, I didn’t ask to me sent messages and have someone make me feel uncomfortable. But maybe that was the wrong decision, either way I have lost faith in my workplace.

And it has crossed my mind that maybe I won’t be well enough to start my new job. But I’ve accept it and I’ve got to try. I’m just taking one day at a time at the moment, trying to look after myself, practice self care, going for walks etc. if it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out.

We used FedEx to collect property by courier. Depending on where you work, there could be GDPR implications of you keeping the computer once you have resigned . Ask them to send a courier.

Absolutely, tell them when it is available for collection and that it would need to be packed up by the courier.

quite straightforward

That is seriously crap and with written evidence pretty clear cut. Unfortunately as you say things can get swept under the rug. I think you are better off without them - sounds horrid and not a great place to know that you are working for a company that takes such a stance on things.

Sounds like a good plan. It's hard mentally to move from one place to another so take it easy and hope the new role goes well.

Remind them you have a doctor’s certificate and will not be going to the office whilst that is in date, due to the reasons you are off with stress, tell them to arrange a courier who can collect it if they want it back before then. Keep all emails and put in a formal complaint if they continue to contact you.

Personally I wouldn't get involved in a spat about it, the employer isn't worth it. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. As others have said, arrange for someone else to drop off the uniforms and equipment and it's one less issue to deal with.

You never know by handing it back you must feel a little less stressed.

It’s normal unfortunately op where I work wages are at risk of deduction for non-return. I’ve heard people be threatened with invoices to pay for not getting equipment back. Equipment has to be handed in by person.

Any chance they think you have started working the new job? And they are being awkward as to try and catch you out.

I feel for you as it doesn’t even allow you to retract your notice, heat of the moment resignation etc, if you did have a change of mind. Possibly mention about someone contacting you inappropriately.

As she’s actually on notice and therefore still an employee I disagree that they are within their rights to be chasing the return of the equipment. They should be arranging collection by courier at the end of her notice period not harassing an employee who is on mental health related sickness absence.

Well I appreciate that however I am still employed by them currently so being deducted from my wages for not returning it right now isn’t an issue.

You have a valid point about rescinding notice though. Not that I’m planning on doing that, but in my organisation you are able to do that right up until your last day. Without my work laptop or access card it makes that more difficult if one did want to do it, but not completely impossible.

There is also an “exit interview” which they are supposed to offer (can be over teams)… but again without my access/i.d card/ laptop/access to my work emails/my work phone… not sure how they offer or organise that.

Another “service” offered is a “say and stay” type thing… where if you have resigned you can access this service where you can talk about what went wrong and a team tries to resolve it in order to retain you. Again, I don’t want to go back there- but if I did or had a change of heart it’s impossible for me to access that service without my work laptop. They want my access I.D back too so even if I wanted to get into the office to access a computer, I couldn’t.

Anyhow it doesn’t matter as I am going to leave, I’ve suggested a courier as most have advised.

So I run an IT function and lots of people dont hand things back and we have to spend ages chasing once they've left so we've instigated a policy of hand it back in person. So we'd essentially do the same request as you've had here.
We also wouldnt know about your stress or sick leave or history or anything. All we are told is xx is leaving and isn't coming back ie isn't working out their notice.
From a security perspective if someone isn't coming back then we need to collect the equipment ASAP so that's what we do. If we wait until their last day and then they don't return it we have zero leverage as their wages are paid etc so we can't do anything and they no longer work for us so it's not a disciplinary matter. Other than pleading all we can do is bring them to court if they don't return it, which of course costs more than the goods.
All this to say, we are highly motivated to secure the goods ASAP and we don't know the context so maybe these people chasing are just doing their jobs and don't understand the stress for you.
Hopefully the courier gets sorted.

Just move on. You have decided to leave got a new job. Don’t make it unnecessarily difficult. I think you are overthinking it exit interviews are not compulsory and even if you retract notice the company doesn’t have to accept it. Personally I wouldn’t be waiting for a courier especially has you have already asked former colleagues to help return the equipment it almost seems as though you want to make it difficult for your former employer.

I don't think you need to jump to it to return it, if they want it really quickly they can arrange someone to come and get it, but I do think you are responsible for having it back by the end of your contract as it is their property.

Ask if they will provide a courier to pick up as you are too unwell to do it within the timeframe given. Best of best in your new post

They want their property, they're contacting you to arrange its return, and they want it by a certain date. You've given your notice and they realize you won't be back in the office. This is not an unreasonable request.

I think it would be unwise to hand it over to a coworker. You can't guarantee its return then and it should be in your possession until you hand it over.

If they won't pay for a courier, just go on yourself and get a receipt for it when you hand it over.

I’m genuinely not trying to be awkward, I just wasn’t expecting to be expected to get it all back so quickly after giving notice- and multiple demanding/pushy messages when I’m off due to work related stress.

It isn’t my IT department pushing for it back, it’s my line manager, HR, messages from colleagues, who all know why I’m off.

Just tell them you have been very unwell but of course you will return the equipment. Ask for packaging and a courier sticker to be sent to you so you don’t have to travel to the office. Ensure it is tracked. Then use that to send it in.the ball is then in their court. Any further enquiry you can sure no problem I am waiting on a courier label and packaging from you.

Other than it’s their property

Sorry you’re going through this, OP.

sounds like they are being deliberately petty.

if you’ve been off for a while and the kit is old, no reason why they can’t wait a little longer.

I’m sure it’s adding to your stress - these things do.
I like @flamingoflapper’s advice. If they say no,
use a courier, maybe do it at your own cost and ensure it’s registered.

That’s interesting, your policy. When I worked in central government we had one lawyer (government legal department) refuse to hand back her laptop and we had to get really stroppy with her and demand it back via courier. She kept it for ages.

"But you're not actually unable to work through sickness because you've taken another job.
So you're not 'sick' are you?"

But surely the other job will only start after the end of OP's notice period. Can you confirm that OP?
If that's the case, she's still on sick leave now.

It's HR chasing her I think so they absolutely do know the context and that she is not mentally well.

Given fit notes carry zero legal status, your GP’s understanding of their own job seems dodgy enough that I wouldn’t trust them
to be giving me legal advice about anything!