AIBU to wetransfer some useful files before I leave my job?

[Hairybaker]

It’s my last day on Friday and there are some pieces of work that I created that I would find useful in future. Im not going to a competitor so won’t be used directly but more as a template /reminder.

Obviously I’m aware that the rules are that you shouldn’t do this.

I don’t want to email them to my personal folder or upload to a usb as that can be tracked. But can a wetransfer be tracked easily!?

I don’t believe that all aspects of WeTransfer’s send/receive process are encrypted, so third parties could intercept and gain access to the files. I really wouldn’t risk it especially considering it sounds, as you’re keen for your employer not to know you’ve sent yourself files, you’re dealing with business sensitive data which you don’t have permission to move.

Any files you create as part of your job are not your property.

How much is there are you able to print them as a reminder?

It depends if your work systems can detect files being transferred out, in which case they would know you have sent them to yourself via wetransfer.

Is there a way of copy pasting into an email or a different doc type. Screen shoting by taking a photo on your phone. Print out the doc and take home a hard copy?

Tbh op I have done similar things. Never for nefarious purposes but for learning or to have as resource like you say.

I would just do it and not even think about it.

If it is a spreadsheet you designed, and which you plan to use as a template, take out the existing input numbers and replace with dummy numbers. The formulae will remain intact.

Can you save the data to your local file.
Take your laptop home and then off of the company network email them to yourself.

One of the best bits of advice I was given was to transfer useful things before leaving a job, especially as I became self employed for a while afterwards (not in competition with my previous employment).

But I knew no-one would care or follow up on it and it was pre GDPR.

What's the actual likelihood of being caught? If that's a major concern, photographing screens with your phone is probably safest.

I'd zip them up using 7 Zip, password protecting the file and using the option to hide the file names. Then create a google account and upload it to your drive. As long as you've got a complicated password they won't be able to see what the original files were, not even the names.

Depends on the company and if you like going to jail. If its a small company, its doubtful they'll notice. If its a big company, they may notice, and you'll probably be in a lot of trouble. There's a reason you aren't meant to email anything to your private email addresses or use things like wetransfer.

Did this with my last job - chucked loads of my work onto a USB. It's come in very handy.

Meh, I downloaded all sorts onto a USB - mostly memos to self

Download to a USB

I took some visa & event templates I'd created with me. Any experienced PA would have her own way of making a v full on role in a mahoosive corporate easier.

@HotChoc10

I would just do it and not even think about it.

This. I left my old job, went to different type of employer (both public sector) but similar role. I emailed myself loads of letters etc and even rang a colleague to get sent something a few weeks after I left. Wasn't an issue.

I do accounts. I download any decent spreadsheets onto a USB stick. Always have. Use them time and time again for future jobs.

Totally depends on the role. This would be unacceptable in my job. They check emails of people who are leaving and prohibit access to USBs and file sharing sites as a general rule.

If you did it during work then the copyright belongs to your employer. You also risk a load of hassle from them, for example if they suspect you stole customers' personal data.

No personal data involved. I am aware that the info is theirs legally even though I created it all.

The last time I worked for someone else they had a massive IT problem, and then discovered that their back-up system didn't work. The whole company had to re-do two weeks of work.

Out of the goodness of my heart I took it upon myself to start a new, secret back-up system - external hard drive with the whole company's data on it. I stored it at home in case of fire. I forgot to give it to them when I left.

@mynameiscalypso

Totally depends on the role. This would be unacceptable in my job. They check emails of people who are leaving and prohibit access to USBs and file sharing sites as a general rule.

Which is precisely why you need to start getting important stuff home the day you start.

I have taken work with me, but never surreptitiously. If it's really not a problem for you to have it, ask them if you can do it legitimately.

I did this. No problem, I don't think my old boss would have cared.

I have done this in a previous role, when I knew nobody would notice or care.

I would not do it in my current role, because it would get flagged and I'd be in trouble.

Depends how paranoid / slick your IT department is. Generally, if they wanted to, they could theoretically track everything you do. Whether they really are is another question.