Laptop Returns in the Gen Z Era: What IT Teams Need to Know
Gen Z now makes up a big chunk of today’s workforce—and they’re changing the way companies handle employee offboarding processes, especially when it comes to getting company laptops back. This generation expects flexibility, digital-first communication, and mobile-friendly everything. They also tend to switch jobs more often than previous generations. In fact, according to PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, 30% of Gen Z workers say they’re likely to change jobs in the next 12 months, which really highlights the fast pace of Gen Z job mobility.
For IT and HR teams, this shift means dealing with way more gen z employee offboarding—especially from remote workers—without slowing things down or putting company data at risk. The old-school methods just don’t work anymore. Manual laptop retrieval, confusing return processes, and slow follow-ups only create friction. Employees get frustrated, and companies end up losing track of valuable devices or running into compliance issues.
In this guide, we’ll break down why Gen Z offboarding preferences matter, how IT teams can adjust their approach to boost laptop return rates, and how working with a partner like Retriever can simplify the whole process—from collecting laptops to redeploying or securely disposing of them.
Why Does Gen Z’s Job Mobility Preference Create New Challenges for Laptop Returns?
The fast pace of Gen Z job mobility is changing the offboarding equation. According to PwC’s 2023 survey, 30% of Gen Z workers are juggling multiple jobs—and many of them are open to switching roles at the drop of a hat. That kind of turnover means your IT team is probably handling Gen Z offboarding way more often than it did with past generations.
This trend has two major implications for employee offboarding strategies:
Increased Volume of Device Returns: More frequent job transitions mean IT teams face a steady influx of devices needing to be returned, wiped, inspected, and either redeployed or disposed of.
Remote and hybrid returns aren’t simple—especially with Gen Z. This generation puts a high premium on flexibility. In fact, a recent Axios report found that nearly two-thirds of Gen Z job seekers prefer roles with flexible schedules. That means laptops are being sent back from all over the map, which makes Gen Z offboarding more complex for IT teams managing the logistics.
Let’s face it—traditional employee offboarding workflows just aren’t cutting it anymore. When your process relies on spreadsheets, manual tracking, and the occasional follow-up email, things fall through the cracks. Laptops go missing. Sensitive data is left exposed. And the cost? It’s not small. According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average data breach now costs $4.45 million. Outdated workflows aren’t just inefficient—they’re costing companies millions.
What Gen Z Employees Expect: Fast, Mobile-First, and Automated Employee Offboarding Experiences
Here’s the thing about Gen Z offboarding—it needs to feel as smooth as ordering your daily Starbucks through their app (though we all know that doesn’t exactly go smoothly 100% of the time). This generation grew up with smartphones in hand and expects workplace interactions to be just as seamless. So if your employee offboarding process involves clunky portals or long email chains, don’t be surprised when things get skipped—or ignored.
When returning company laptops, these employees want:
Prepaid shipping kits delivered to their homes with no complicated printing or trips to a carrier
Clear, step-by-step instructions optimized for mobile viewing
Real-time updates on the status of their return, without needing to follow up with IT for updates
Simple, respectful communication—not legalistic or threatening messages
How Can You Improve Laptop Return Rates With a Younger Workforce?
When it comes to Gen Z offboarding, getting them to return laptops isn’t as easy as slapping a shipping label on a box. This generation expects streamlined, tech-forward solutions—and frankly, they’re more likely to engage when the process feels effortless. Automating the employee offboarding process plays a key role here. Nearly half of IT teams report losing at least 5% of company devices during employee offboarding, often due to manual workflows and lack of timely follow-up (Oomnitza) Automated employee offboarding workflows can drastically reduce lost assets, accelerate return times, and improve security. If you’re still relying on manual reminders and spreadsheets, it might be time for an upgrade.
Here are key strategies IT and HR teams should implement to keep up with Gen Z job mobility and manage employee offboarding efficiently:
Automate the Shipping of Return Kits: Sending prepaid, ready-to-use laptop return kits directly to employees eliminates confusion and reduces barriers.
Use Mobile-Friendly, Clear Communication: Automated, mobile-optimized emails with simple return instructions keep employees engaged.
Provide Real-Time Visibility and Tracking: Dashboards that track each device's return status in real time allow IT managers to act promptly.
Follow Up with Friendly Reminders: Polite, timely reminders encourage prompt action without alienating employees.
What Should Happen After the Laptop Comes Back?
The return of a laptop isn’t the finish line; it’s the start of another critical process in the employee offboarding journey. Devices must be:
Inspected for damage — To understand repair needs or assess if replacement is required
Cleaned and refurbished — So redeployment is seamless.
Securely wiped — To protect sensitive data and comply with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
Either redeployed or disposed of responsibly — To maximize ROI and minimize environmental impact.
What Should You Look for in a Laptop Return Partner?
Choosing the right partner can make or break your Gen Z offboarding workflow—especially with the expectations that come with Gen Z job mobility and tech-savvy employees. Here’s what to prioritize:
End-to-End Management: From prepaid return kits to secure disposal, the partner should handle the full lifecycle.
No Long-Term Contracts or Hidden Fees: Flexibility is key, especially with fluctuating offboarding volumes.
Transparent, Real-Time Tracking: IT teams need dashboards showing each device’s status and alerts on delays.
Responsive Customer Service: Support available seven days a week to address any hiccups.
Mobile-First Experience: All communication and processes should be optimized for smartphone use.
About Retriever: Your Partner for Laptop Returns, Warehousing, Redeployment, and Secure Disposal
Retriever specializes in managing the entire laptop lifecycle for companies navigating the unique challenges of employee offboarding—especially as Gen Z offboarding becomes more common in a workforce defined by high Gen Z job mobility:
Laptop Return Services: Retriever ships prepaid laptop return kits directly to remote employees with easy-to-follow, mobile-friendly instructions. Automated email reminders and a customer dashboard provide real-time visibility to your IT team throughout the return journey. Learn more: Laptop Returns | Email Automation | Return Kit Ordering | Enterprise Dashboard.
Laptop Warehousing and Redeployment: Once returned, devices are securely stored in climate-controlled facilities. Retriever’s experts perform condition checks, cleaning, repairs, and OS provisioning to get laptops ready for redeployment, helping companies save on hardware costs and reduce onboarding times. More details: Warehousing & Redeployment.
Certified Data Destruction and Disposal: When laptops reach end-of-life, Retriever provides secure data destruction services compliant with U.S. Department of Defense and NIST standards, followed by environmentally conscious disposal, protecting your company’s data and sustainability goals. Learn more: Data Destruction & Disposal.
With Retriever, IT teams gain a trusted partner that handles every step—saving time, reducing risk, and delivering a seamless experience for both your workforce and your internal teams during employee offboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if an employee doesn’t return their laptop after offboarding?
If a device isn’t returned, send a series of friendly, mobile-friendly reminders and include a prepaid return kit. If there's still no response, escalate per your internal device recovery policy.
When should laptop return instructions be sent?
Ideally, the same day employee offboarding is initiated, or at least 48 hours before the termination date.
What happens if the laptop is damaged?
Document it with photos, request acknowledgment, and consider a damage fee policy.
Can company laptops be reused after offboarding?
Yes—as long as they’re inspected, wiped, and stored securely. Many IT teams redeploy laptops to reduce onboarding time and cut hardware costs.
How do we safely dispose of old laptops?
Use a certified data destruction service that complies with NIST and DoD standards.
Final Thoughts: Gen Z Isn’t Slowing Down—Your Employee Offboarding Process Can’t Either
Gen Z offboarding is now a core part of IT’s responsibility. Gen Z job mobility and fast-paced, tech-savvy workforce habits are transforming the employee offboarding landscape. To keep up, IT teams must adopt mobile-friendly, automated, and transparent laptop return processes that reduce friction and protect company assets.
With Retriever’s comprehensive services covering returns, warehousing, redeployment, and secure disposal—all backed by easy-to-use technology and responsive support—you can confidently manage employee offboarding in the Gen Z era.
Ready to future-proof your laptop return process and streamline Gen Z offboarding? Let Retriever handle your employee offboarding, laptop returns, redeployment, and disposal—all with a few clicks. Visit www.helloretriever.com to learn more!