While parent may have indeed been provided an ordinary stock Apple device, Apple's "Automated Device Enrollment" program can be used to administer/manage devices even when shipped directly from Apple to employees. I got a laptop replaced at a former company, shipped directly from Apple to me. I expected to have to reach out to IT to get it bootstrapped with their management tools, but the OS install process did this automatically.

Doesn't stop them from legally mandating you give them the device as-is and retain all data on it.

My philosophy: if the hardware doesn't belong to me I'm not doing anything personal on it, no exceptions.

> Not everyone works in places with an IT department

True, if you work for very early startups with no IT department, life is a lot more free. Just be careful when they grow to the point of having that IT department.

Also be aware of peer comment, devices can be shipped direct from manufacturer but already pre-registered to be company-managed. But this does require said IT department to exist to be managing this.

I do make exception to my hard rule on not sharing company/personal activities on devices when working with tiny startups where this is not an issue.