Standard Disclaimer, 37M Autistic.
I love my job, I have no intention of leaving, I have been with my current place 5 years (intent on surpassing my previous employment which was 8 years)
In my daily tasks I push chairs in, restock stationary, clean whiteboards, and take all Lost and Found to the front desk, where they take care of it from there. Up until recently, my boss and I were taking care of it, now another department takes care of it.
My boss and I had a strategy when dealing with it, we referred to it as Lost, because it was so rare that anyone came and claimed their stuff back. I don't make “good money” (everyone has their own interpretation of that phrase) I am not minimum wage or anything or struggling to get by, but at my work I know there are people who earn far more than I ever will.
My boss and I would write up everything we found, send out that list on a daily basis noticeboard so anyone, at any time could go to it, to see what was found, and yet stuff still went unclaimed. We never hid anything, we never stashed it, and if it wasn't claimed/reclaimed in a certain time period, (6 months to a year) we threw it away… or claimed it for ourselves.
At the moment I am stuck between my own Tell-Tale Heart, and Ratatouille arguing with his father.
Remy: “We are thieves dad, and what we are stealing is garbage”
Dad: “It isn't stealing if no one wants it”
Remy: “If no one wants it, why are we stealing it”
We have categories for what is considered lost property.
Stationery is not lost property, unless it has been engraved or has someone's name on it.
Office stationery is not lost property, that gets put back or thrown away.
Computer Mice same thing, they are cheap now and unless it is ergonomic or has someone's name on it, they get thrown away etc.
The things I have got to keep after a year have been an old iPad and recently Apple Air Pods.
I feel guilty but no one claimed it, the people who lose the items in the first place, can afford to get more anyway (let's face it what gets lost more than Air Pods)
I completely get it, shoe on the other foot, if I was in their position I would be devastated if my property was lost/misplaced and would be doing whatever I could to find it again, but people don't seem to care. I have found Ventolin Asthma inhalers!!!! something that is meant to keep you alive!!!! and people don't claim it.