If yoiu relaly think it's a problem, it sounds like a HR problem. Tell them they need a policy that says the company is not responsible for any damage that has occurred before or after delivery, reception staff will just sign anything and are not responsible for checking delivery (including parcel condition) in any way, no dangerous goods to be delivered, nothing over 5kg to be delivered. If anyone doesn't like the policy, get their stuff delivered elsewhere. We let staff have deliveries made to work. We don't have any policy. I don't worry about it, except when we had two bicycles and a car exhaust pipe turn up the same day and reception looked like a sorting office - not great for clients arriving. An 'all staff' email saying "don't take the [expletive deleted] or we'll make a policy" seems to have resolved that.

I won't go as far as calling you an 'old misery' but surely there are more important health and safety issues to be concerned about?

We allow it. The only time we had a small problem was when, at a time when terrorists were distributing Anthrax through the post, a small parcel arrived with a sticker on it from an animal rights organisation (not one of the well known ones). There were several mistakes in the address, which is one of the critical warning signs. Investigation showed it to contain a stuffed toy. We asked the recipient not to have things delivered to work from this organisation, or similar, again.

My last employer had banned the practice. A push bike-user had ordered themselves a new set of bike lights. What they forgot was that all of the packages a x-rayed when they arrive and the staff in the post room saw a package containing wires and batteries and the like. This of course triggered a bomb alert! Why would you want to take responsibility for some else’s deliveries?

I am happy to be branded an old misery. Knowing the chancers that work here, I hate to think were it would end up if this was allowed. However as another poster says don't let this become a H&S issue.

Ok my job to be the miserable one this week. Allowing staff to receive parcels at work might work for a small business but at my last job we received dozens (hundreds) of parcels every day. These had to be received and security checked. Then they were distributed around the site. We could not just leave them in reception, there was no room and it was not clear if a parcel was a personal one or a business one. Parcels can get misdelivered and lost and so the poor sods in the post room would get the blame even though it was not their fault. Not worth the hassle.

quote=A Kurdziel]Ok my job to be the miserable one this week. Allowing staff to receive parcels at work might work for a small business but at my last job we received dozens (hundreds) of parcels every day. These had to be received and security checked. Then they were distributed around the site. We could not just leave them in reception, there was no room and it was not clear if a parcel was a personal one or a business one. Parcels can get misdelivered and lost and so the poor sods in the post room would get the blame even though it was not their fault. Not worth the hassle.

this is the manifestation of global internet shopping - unfortunately many shippers are either unaware or choose to ignore basic common sense and carriers published rules in search of profit. Before Christmas from an independent seller on a popular web site via a well known courier - contents 2 tins of Lighter Fluid! Personal packages banned from site based on the employment contract "focus on company business during working hours". And for those that need delivery during working hours - Family. neighbour or one of the drop sites available through most providers.