We've recently hired someone who lives in an area currently affected by severe snow and ice. They were supposed to start this past Monday, but they're unable to receive any shipments. We sent out two laptops: the first one has arrived in their state but is stuck in a FedEx warehouse with no updates from support, and the second one, sent via overnight shipping, seems to be lost in transit four states away. Management is now suggesting that the employee might drive to a nearby Best Buy to pick up a laptop themselves, and I'm unsure if Best Buy's devices can even support our setup or if that's the best course of action. I could contact the employee to guide them through the initial setup remotely, but I'm really at a loss here. Would it be better to have them wait for one of the laptops to arrive, or should I explore getting them a laptop from Best Buy?
4 Answers
It might be worth looking into getting a virtual desktop set up instead. The employee can use whatever device they have at home until the company laptop arrives. With a tool like Windows 365 or Citrix, it’ll give them some semblance of access to work without the added hassle of picking up a temporary laptop.
Good idea! If they have remote access, they could manage some training or setup while they wait for the actual device.
Totally understand the panic! But honestly, I think you should just tell them to wait. It sounds like everything will sort itself out in a few days. We had a similar situation, and in the end, it all worked out quicker than expected. No sense racing against bad weather and spending more money on new laptops that could end up delayed too.
Exactly! All this rush could be a waste of time and money if they're sending more packages. Sometimes, it's better to let things settle a bit during crazy weather.
Totally agree! Plus, pushing someone to drive in bad conditions isn't wise. They could be safe and productive in other ways while waiting.
If mandates push to get them working right away, check if there's a FedEx office nearby and see if they can retrieve the package from there. But again, it’s weather-related. So if it’s too risky, just wait for it to clear up!
Good point! It might save time, but I doubt they'll risk sending someone out in that weather unless it's necessary.
And if he can’t get it due to the storm, it’s still a no-go! Better to let the weather pass.
Honestly, just let them chill for a bit and wait. This weather situation isn't anyone's fault, and there's no rush. Have them do some reading or training materials from home if they can. It's just onboarding, not like they're going to be super productive without the laptop.
True! Most new hires just fill out forms and go through videos. They’ll be fine waiting a few days.
Right? They can take this downtime to familiarize themselves with company policies or procedures.
Yeah, I've done that before! It works out great for onboarding, too, since they can hit the ground running even without the physical laptop.