Quick question Usually when companies ship laptops to their new recruits, do they ship second hand/used pieces with the box or is it always a fresh one? Just wanted to know how companies operate with regards to this. For example, if an employee leaves the company and they return the laptop back, what happens to that device? Is that shipped to the next new recruit?

This probably differs from company to company. A Startup I worked at traded in used laptops for new ones and sent the new ones to new joiners (better onboarding experience). Another company used these computers as backup/loaners, incase the main laptop needs repairs. If the computers are in great shape, no harm in wiping them and reusing them.

Agree to what raj mentioned and adding to that, I have seen companies sending used laptops to their contract employees and new laptops to FTEs is something I have noticed. Past year or so due to semi conductor shortage companies also faced difficulty procuring their laptops so then also reusing was heavily done

Interesting. Do the companies usually mention this to their employees before shipping the device though?

Mostly no since everyone wants their employees to be onboarded asap and get to work irrespective of the laptop sent

It also depends if a company is contracting with a vendor to handle this. If the vendor has used machines that have been wiped or made ready to be sent, the new employee might get a used machine.

Right. Thanks for the input folks 🙂

We had options to select windows or Mac and the configuration required, so everybody gets a new laptop. We also have an internal tech shop to buy used laptops and other electronic accessories for personal use.

My previous company used to lease laptops and also had employee purchase plan so you can get the laptop for yourself at end of cycle (3 years) for a nominal rate like 10k