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Should I remove the previous occupant's belongings from my new desk?
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up vote
43
down vote
favorite
I just started a new job. The person that previously had my desk left some things on the desk. I waited 2 weeks and she has not returned to pick them up. Should I throw these things away?
Things left behind:
- 2 bottles of disinfectant
- A notebook with some notes/math equations
- Random papers from some sort of presentation
- Family picture (I think)
- Some other non valuable stuff
I don't know this person.
new-job cubicles
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
I just started a new job. The person that previously had my desk left some things on the desk. I waited 2 weeks and she has not returned to pick them up. Should I throw these things away?
Things left behind:
- 2 bottles of disinfectant
- A notebook with some notes/math equations
- Random papers from some sort of presentation
- Family picture (I think)
- Some other non valuable stuff
I don't know this person.
new-job cubicles
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
13
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
9
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
10
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
2
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
4
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
I just started a new job. The person that previously had my desk left some things on the desk. I waited 2 weeks and she has not returned to pick them up. Should I throw these things away?
Things left behind:
- 2 bottles of disinfectant
- A notebook with some notes/math equations
- Random papers from some sort of presentation
- Family picture (I think)
- Some other non valuable stuff
I don't know this person.
new-job cubicles
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
I just started a new job. The person that previously had my desk left some things on the desk. I waited 2 weeks and she has not returned to pick them up. Should I throw these things away?
Things left behind:
- 2 bottles of disinfectant
- A notebook with some notes/math equations
- Random papers from some sort of presentation
- Family picture (I think)
- Some other non valuable stuff
I don't know this person.
new-job cubicles
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
edited Sep 14 '14 at 21:23
CaptainCodeman
4,85452132
4,85452132
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
asked Sep 14 '14 at 20:05
J_Strauton
32736
32736
13
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
9
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
10
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
2
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
4
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01
 |Â
show 2 more comments
13
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
9
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
10
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
2
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
4
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01
13
13
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
9
9
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
10
10
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
2
2
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
4
4
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01
 |Â
show 2 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
80
down vote
accepted
I would put them in a box/bag and give them to your Human Resources department -- if they tell you to throw it away then you can.
If you throw them away without instruction, then you essentially take on some responsibility for those items.
Edit: If you really want to cover yourself in case HR does tell you to throw the items away, you could send an email to HR, write something like -- "based on your instructions, I threw away X items on date Y," and ask them to reply to confirm. That way you'd have a paper trail of sorts.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
27
down vote
Get a box, put the stuff in, put the previous occupants name on there if you know it, and then give it to someone else -- your supervisor, human resources, office manager.
You shouldn't have to put up with it, and if you throw it away, you will have been the last one to touch it and thus the obvious target for any complaints. Dealing with such things are why those positions exist.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
suggest improvements |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
80
down vote
accepted
I would put them in a box/bag and give them to your Human Resources department -- if they tell you to throw it away then you can.
If you throw them away without instruction, then you essentially take on some responsibility for those items.
Edit: If you really want to cover yourself in case HR does tell you to throw the items away, you could send an email to HR, write something like -- "based on your instructions, I threw away X items on date Y," and ask them to reply to confirm. That way you'd have a paper trail of sorts.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
80
down vote
accepted
I would put them in a box/bag and give them to your Human Resources department -- if they tell you to throw it away then you can.
If you throw them away without instruction, then you essentially take on some responsibility for those items.
Edit: If you really want to cover yourself in case HR does tell you to throw the items away, you could send an email to HR, write something like -- "based on your instructions, I threw away X items on date Y," and ask them to reply to confirm. That way you'd have a paper trail of sorts.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
80
down vote
accepted
up vote
80
down vote
accepted
I would put them in a box/bag and give them to your Human Resources department -- if they tell you to throw it away then you can.
If you throw them away without instruction, then you essentially take on some responsibility for those items.
Edit: If you really want to cover yourself in case HR does tell you to throw the items away, you could send an email to HR, write something like -- "based on your instructions, I threw away X items on date Y," and ask them to reply to confirm. That way you'd have a paper trail of sorts.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
I would put them in a box/bag and give them to your Human Resources department -- if they tell you to throw it away then you can.
If you throw them away without instruction, then you essentially take on some responsibility for those items.
Edit: If you really want to cover yourself in case HR does tell you to throw the items away, you could send an email to HR, write something like -- "based on your instructions, I threw away X items on date Y," and ask them to reply to confirm. That way you'd have a paper trail of sorts.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
edited Sep 16 '14 at 17:12
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
answered Sep 14 '14 at 20:48
mcknz
15.7k55468
15.7k55468
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
suggest improvements |Â
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
13
13
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
For a small office, do this and pass it to your HR. For a big organization in a large office building I would suppose you can drop it off at a "lost and found" dept if you have one, or the security post, then just email the HR dept a note about it. But never just throw the things away. The previous person might be intending to collect them but being too busy at the moment. If you have that person's contact, or can obtain the contact from HR or someone, you can send them a reminder note (it will be a nice gesture on your part, but not necessary).
– ADTC
Sep 15 '14 at 4:16
14
14
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
I would add specifically for the notebook, show it to the ex-employee's former boss. It's unlikely, but it might have worthwhile content that never made it into "the system", and so somebody able to recognise that should be given the opportunity to check it if they want. HR might show it to the former boss anyway, but then again if you say to HR "these are X's old things" they might believe you without looking in the box at all.
– Steve Jessop
Sep 15 '14 at 8:13
3
3
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I'd add that the notebook and/or papers from the presentation could potentially be company property, if they contain sensitive information.
– Joe
Sep 15 '14 at 18:29
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
I would guess that they probably are company property. Generally, anything created in the course of company business is company property, not the former employee's property.
– reirab
Sep 15 '14 at 23:36
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
27
down vote
Get a box, put the stuff in, put the previous occupants name on there if you know it, and then give it to someone else -- your supervisor, human resources, office manager.
You shouldn't have to put up with it, and if you throw it away, you will have been the last one to touch it and thus the obvious target for any complaints. Dealing with such things are why those positions exist.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
27
down vote
Get a box, put the stuff in, put the previous occupants name on there if you know it, and then give it to someone else -- your supervisor, human resources, office manager.
You shouldn't have to put up with it, and if you throw it away, you will have been the last one to touch it and thus the obvious target for any complaints. Dealing with such things are why those positions exist.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
27
down vote
up vote
27
down vote
Get a box, put the stuff in, put the previous occupants name on there if you know it, and then give it to someone else -- your supervisor, human resources, office manager.
You shouldn't have to put up with it, and if you throw it away, you will have been the last one to touch it and thus the obvious target for any complaints. Dealing with such things are why those positions exist.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
Get a box, put the stuff in, put the previous occupants name on there if you know it, and then give it to someone else -- your supervisor, human resources, office manager.
You shouldn't have to put up with it, and if you throw it away, you will have been the last one to touch it and thus the obvious target for any complaints. Dealing with such things are why those positions exist.
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
answered Sep 14 '14 at 21:42
jmoreno
7,9271840
7,9271840
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
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13
You could always ask people in the immediate area who used to sit at your desk, find that person's email and send them an email saying "Good Morning, I think I believe I was assigned to sit in your old desk (located on the 4th floor, by the elevator [or some kind of detail]). I think you may have left some items here, including a family pictures and some of your other belongings. If this is correct, let's coordinate a time so I can return these items to you."
– Mark C.
Sep 15 '14 at 13:17
9
There seems to be a huge cultural difference between working in the US and here in Germany. I cannot think of a single company I know/worked with (no matter how big) where one might have such an "issue" at all or not solving it by simply talking to co-workers.
– Uwe Keim
Sep 15 '14 at 17:27
10
@UweKeim I am in the US but I think this question is strange too.. I see a lot of questions here that really should be resolved by having a simple conversation with your manager or coworker(s).
– Philip
Sep 15 '14 at 23:29
2
I also find it strange that a question where the obvious answer is "talk to your colleagues: they're human beings, you know!" gets 30+ upvotes.
– David Richerby
Sep 16 '14 at 0:14
4
I really wish @Jimmy's comment was an answer instead. It's a much better answer than the highly upvoted, accepted one.
– Jolenealaska
Sep 16 '14 at 3:01