Employees Would Steal Data When Leaving a Job 457
An anonymous reader writes "Employees openly admit they would take company data, including customer data and product plans, when leaving a job. In response to a recent survey, 49% of US workers and 52% of British workers admitted they would take some form of company property with them when leaving a position: 29% (US) and 23% (UK) would take customer data, including contact information; 23% (US) and 22% (UK) would take electronic files; 15% (US) and 17% (UK) would take product information, including designs and plans; and 13% (US) and 22% (UK) would take small office supplies."
Re:So. (Score:1, Informative)
anyone stealing stuff probably uploads it to gmail or dropbox..
Re:Depends on circumstances (Score:3, Informative)
Fired and I didn't deserve it? I'd GIVE them a lawsuit.
Good luck with that, most US jurisdictions have "at-will" employment. Unless they fired you because you are a member of some protected class (female, minority, gay, etc.) you are most likely SOL. Even if they fired you because of that you are SOL unless you can prove it, which is no easy task. In my state they don't even have to give you a reason for letting you go.
I don't understand this arrangement (Score:5, Informative)
It's like unemployment. You don't just automatically get unemployment if you are out of work. If you are terminated for cause, then you get no unemployment. If you quit on your own, you get no unemployment. However, if you are laid off, then you will qualify for unemployment.
Non-compete agreements have the same basic legal structure. You can't be held to a non-compete if your employer lays you off as a normal part of downsizing. You may very well be held to a non-compete if you are fired for cause and/or quit on your own.
The distinction is subtle, but important in the eyes of the law.
Please don't do this....it won't end well for you (Score:5, Informative)
I don't know why that company would have to keep paying your friend. Once you offer up the fact that you plan to resign, the company is under no obligation to do anything else for you. In fact, they could have just as easily said "no" and fired him right there and then (like most employers will do).
Please, please, please do not follow the parent's advice on this. In almost all cases, it will not turn out well for you. I speak with authority because I am an employer and have dealt with this very issue recently. Attorneys were involved, counsel was sought, etc, etc. I am not talking out of my ass on this one.
Re:I don't understand this arrangement (Score:3, Informative)
My girlfriend is an HR recruiter, and we've spent some time talking about non-competes. In several states, they are specific laws that make them illegal to enforce. Employers can scare you with them, but they can't back them up. California is the most prominent state that does not honor non-competes. Furthermore, in most other states, non-competes are unenforcible.
Non-competes are a scare tactic that employers may use against former employees; however, the courts are smart enough to realize that people have to work somewhere, and they might as well be as productive as possible (i.e. work in their qualified field), so they give a lot of deference to people who are trying to work.
Re:Sad Clown:( (Score:4, Informative)
Employee loyalty died when "personnel" became "human resources". When you treat people like a resource to be mined for your own gain why would they treat the company differently ?
Re:So. (Score:3, Informative)
Just because you offer to resign in two weeks does not mean your employer has to accept your offer. They can choose to accept your offer or they could just fire you right there on the spot. If they chose the latter option, you have no recourse and that employer is not obligated to pay your for the two weeks (because you didn't work those two weeks). It may suck but that's the way it is.
Lots of companies pay the two weeks, thinking they can avoid the possibility of any litigation. The 2 weeks pay is a "cost of doing business" and they will often pay employees even if they are not reporting to work. But make no mistake, they don't have to do it that way.
Honestly, it's no more complex than this: you should never expect to get paid for days you don't work. If you do, consider yourself lucky, take the money, and go quietly into the good night.
Re:So. (Score:3, Informative)
Lots of companies pay the two weeks, thinking they can avoid the possibility of any litigation. The 2 weeks pay is a "cost of doing business" and they will often pay employees even if they are not reporting to work. But make no mistake, they don't have to do it that way.
More importantly, you could draw unemployment which affects your employer if they decide to fire you. They may decide that it's worth they two weeks pay (and work) to avoid dealing with the paperwork. If you quit, you don't usually qualify for unemployment.
Re:So. (Score:3, Informative)