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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I going. To be in serious trouble?

75 replies

Whitewhite · 30/01/2021 18:03

I started a new job this week and have been in training. I was given training documents which was emailed to my work account. I’m working from home and the training has been intense and technical.

I wanted to print the documents so I could sit and read them on the couch tonight. I couldn’t link my printer to my work laptop so tried to send the documents to my personal email to print this way.

The email was blocked and an automatic email sent from IT saying I’d breached rules. Now I’m so worried that I’m going to lose my job.

I work for a bank brand new job and was so looking forward to it. Now I’m worried I lose it.

I genuinely didn’t know I was breaching the rules. I just wanted to print the manual to try and read and study to get my head around it.

OP posts:
hulahooper2 · 30/01/2021 18:35

Breaches will be flagged up to your manager. You should contact them and explain what happened and I expect all will be fine , don’t worry too much

lanthanum · 30/01/2021 18:38

It's great that they have a system in place to avoid anyone inadvertently (or through lack of training) breaching security. There's clearly no harm done. Contact your manager and explain that you'd like a printed copy of the manual; you can explain that you hadn't realised embargos on forwarding emails applied to everything, even if no sensitive data is involved.

Pinkyxx · 30/01/2021 18:43

The email was blocked as a safeguard. These types of 'hard stops' are very common in regulatory environments as its crucial to control the flow of communication for fraud / IP / money laundering etc purposes. Its likely a 'blanket' policy, in other words every IT asset used on the company network has the restrictions coded - be it mail room, PA, or the CEO.

If you emailed a training manual this wouldn't constitute gross misconduct (i.e. a sackable offence). contact your manager, disclose what happened, apologize and ask for a copy of the company policy and training on the internal data protection policies.

You'll be fine :-)

edwinbear · 30/01/2021 18:43

I work for a bank. E mailing work related documents to a personal e mail address is considered a fairly big compliance breach. However, if it’s a first offence, you’re new and the documents were reasonably generic, I would expect your line manager to speak to you, warn you how serious it is and explain that it’s a mistake which must not be repeated. But I don’t think they will sack your for it.

Echo PP’s that you must let your line manager know though, it shows integrity and will be looked on favourably. Compliance breaches do happen in banking and the first rule is always to flag it ASAP.

Cuthbert1 · 30/01/2021 18:46

I work in risk role at a financial institution - same rules/blocker type software. It's a big no no to email anything work related to a personal email but it does happen. I really doubt you'll get into serious trouble in this scenario especially if you hadn't covered it in induction training (though I'd be surprised if IT security wasn't included in mandatory day 1 training at any bank). As others have said, you should contact your line manager - explain what's happened and that you won't do it again now you know. You will be fine.

Nunoftheother · 30/01/2021 18:47

@RandomLondoner

Am I the only one wondering if the training documents OP wanted to print for easier readability include the instructions about not emailing to a personal address?
No, I was thinking exactly the same thing!
Poppins2016 · 30/01/2021 18:49

@RandomLondoner

Am I the only one wondering if the training documents OP wanted to print for easier readability include the instructions about not emailing to a personal address?
No, you're not the only one. 😇

OP, you have a good reason for emailing yourself and it isn't a serious data breach situation. Don't panic, just explain to your supervisor on Monday.

Wiredforsound · 30/01/2021 18:51

The message was blocked so no harm done. Just send a quick email to your boss explaining it as you did to us and it won’t happen again.

AnaisNun · 30/01/2021 18:56

What everyone upthread said about the policy she needs to read being in the documents...

Surely if they’re emailing docs out to new starters at home, there should be a warning in the body of the email not to try and print etc?

QuitMoaning · 30/01/2021 19:02

Same here. Tell your manager and explain exactly what it was and you now understand why you cannot do it in the future. They will respect your honesty and ability to own up to mistakes and learn from them.

I just emailed pension details home so I could sign them (as WFH and cannot connect personal printer) so there are reasons, not automatic job threat.

Original poster
Whitewhite · 30/01/2021 19:02

Thanks everyone.

I emailed and explained the situation.

The document was typed by my trainer and was just a basic training of terms and glossary.

I have mandatory training but haven’t done the IT one yet. There is over 30 mandatory training guides which I’m working though. No one said anything about not printing.

Of course I would never in a million years print anything sensitive.

OP posts:
Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 30/01/2021 19:04

Contact/ e-mail your new line manager or whoever sent the training materials and explain them what you tried to do and why! Apologise and say you made a mistake.

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 30/01/2021 19:04

Xpost! That sounds good OP!

gg12346 · 30/01/2021 19:06

I did the same thing and I contacted my boss and explained him .Take a video or picture on phone instead :)

yeOldeTrout · 30/01/2021 19:07

I'm trying to understand how A training manual can count as a data breach; a training manual shouldn't have any genuine real life human person data in it.

Womencanlift · 30/01/2021 19:09

It will depend on the bank you work for as some are more strict than others. The bank I am at now is very very strict and nothing and I mean nothing can be sent to a private email address.

Saying that in all the banks I have worked for we have never been allowed to print anything at home as everything printed needs to be put in confidential waste bins which obviously nobody has at home

I think you will be ok if you explain as you said you have. But cover yourself in the future by never printing anything at home unless you have permission to do so

Womencanlift · 30/01/2021 19:10

@yeOldeTrout

I'm trying to understand how A training manual can count as a data breach; a training manual shouldn't have any genuine real life human person data in it.
But it may have details of the banks processes which is classed as confidential. Well it has been in any bank I have worked at
partyatthepalace · 30/01/2021 19:14

Don't worry, you weren't told not to.

Just drop a line to your manager explaining. Will all be fine.

Backbee · 30/01/2021 19:15

I'm sure you'll be fine OP, you have emailed your manager to explain, it was blocked so didn't send, and really if starting a new job remotely, it should have been one of the first things they told you, surely, about data protection specifically in a home environment.

Bcnamechanger · 30/01/2021 19:18

Good stuff that you've contacted your line manager. I'd also suggest that you all for advice on how to have ready to refer to hard copies of training materials. That was the purpose of your breach, and in normal times you might expect to have a folder on your desk of relevant materials, so it isn't such an unreasonable ask.

That said, you must understand your obligations to IT security. There are beaches that will get you immediately disciplined, and you have no right of appeal. You don't want your bank to publicise your information, so data sec matters, right? So, always use the photocopier test (is this something it's ok to leave on the photocopier?) and ask before you do (this is an instance where it's better to ask for permission than forgiveness)

Good luck with the new job!

Bangable · 30/01/2021 19:18

Honestly, OP, I have over 20 years in the banking industry. You will be absolutely fine. You have sent an email explaining what happened. Totally innocuous and nothing to worry about.

TableFlowerss · 30/01/2021 19:22

Well I’m sure when you explain, it will be fine. We all make mistakes! More so during training.

Christ, years ago (in an old job) I gave out a document to a client that was for someone else and had that someone else’s name. address and bank details on 😳. It was an accident on my part (and in my defence it was a very stressful time, very busy and the printers weren’t working as they should) but it was still a data breach. I should have double checked the document before posting it out...

Anyway, my boss asked me my version of events. I phoned him later on panicked asking if I was going to get a disciplinary etc.. and he said “I’m on the phone to our legal team. I don’t think you realise how big a deal it is Sam.....” I think I stared booing at that point....

Anyway, I never heard another thing about it ever again! I didn’t even get so much as a file note.... and I was there for another few years and got a glowing reference when I left!

There was another time where they had to write off about £20,000, because someone lost documents I gave to them. Whilst it technically wasn’t my fault, they could have been arsey and given me a file note- but they didn’t. I worked my way up in that company to quite a senior level too!

What I’m saying is, we all make mistakes, but as long as we don’t repeat them....

rwalker · 30/01/2021 19:25

It will be automatic might not even be flagged up .Have they gone over there data and it policies with you .

LH1987 · 30/01/2021 19:26

Nah it’ll be fine, this is automatic email.I mean don’t do it again but it’s not a big issue.

I used to work in HR for a large UK bank BTW, the only time this would an issue is if you sent externally something that would impact share price which training documents would not.

I wouldn’t give this another thought.

Backbee · 30/01/2021 19:27

i'd also suggest that you all for advice on how to have ready to refer to hard copies of training materials.

Yes, this. It's really hard to learn from a screen, especially when similatneously doing work where you have to refer to them. Unless you waste time making copious notes, or endlessly flicking back and forth, it's really challenging. Chances are that people who began work prior to lockdown in offices were able to take appropriate and relevent hard copies home if needed. They could have couriered a copy to you when you started if it's essential to the job, and ensured it didn't contain anything that wouldnt be appropriate to have at home.

I feel for everyone starting new jobs remotely, we had a new started and although we have tried to do what we can and have encouraged openess and honesty if they need anything, I do worry that it's super stressful for them.