Working from home is not a new concept, but COVID forced a meteoric rise in adoption that did not go away post-pandemic. In fact, according to a 2023 Harvard Business Review article, executives predict a 1% increase in fully remote workers and a 2% hybrid increase over the next five years.
While businesses have seen the benefits of a remote workforce, namely the cost-savings of consolidated office space, there have also been some unforeseen challenges. One of the costliest challenges is related to the return of IT equipment from remote workers. Equipment is often delayed, damaged due to improper packaging or simply never returned, especially by employees who leave under unfavorable circumstances.
“We were replacing over 100 laptops a year after we went work from home. For us that is an extra $110,000 - $120,000 to put towards our Infrastructure.”
- CIO, Law Firm in Chicago
The financial losses some companies have incurred have forced them to take difficult actions such as deducting the value of equipment from final paychecks or withholding them all together. Of course, this causes headaches for the HR and Legal Departments as it is not legal in every state to do.
So how can companies mitigate the cost of remote workers?
By making the process of returning IT equipment as simple and streamlined as possible, you greatly increase the chances of retrieving your company’s property. Let’s face it, no employee or former employee wants to haul monitors, desktops, phones etc. to FedEx and figure out how to box it up. And, if the former employee is disgruntled, they often don’t do so properly. IT teams report having damaged equipment returned in thinly padded envelopes and boxes with no padding whatsoever.
With MyITRetrieval.com, employers can order customizable kits that are sent directly to the employee. Included is an “Easy Pack” padded box, pre-paid shipping label, pre-cut tape and an Employee Letter with instructions. By simplifying the process, you greatly improve the odds of your undamaged IT equipment being returned and minimizing losses of for your company.