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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

103 replies

Hairybaker · 27/07/2021 15:54

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!?

OP posts:
GrimDamnFanjo · 27/07/2021 19:05

@LordEmsworth

You can still get sacked for gross misconduct between now and Friday. And that is definitely what would happen where I work.
I know someone who this happened to about 20 yrs ago. He brought office files home to research after he'd resigned. His work fired him and told the new employer who rescinded his job offer. There was no malicious intent he just didn't think it through but ended up temping to put some distance between himself and the previous job. This was the City.
Neondisco · 27/07/2021 19:07

@penguinwithasuitcase

Good lord.

I totally and completely take for granted how relaxed, generous and collaborative my company is.

Threads like this are a real eye-opener.

Yes I know. I work in the cultural sector and no one would care. I suppose there's a big difference between for profit businesses needing to protect assets or even personal info in with public or private sector.

But for me it would be a spreadsheet template, funding applications or perhaps a policy. But in general although there is competition for funding museums and galleries want each other to do well (in my experience).

All this constant monitoring by the it department makes me realise I'm in the right job.

StarryStarrySocks · 27/07/2021 19:12

I did this when I left my last job (public sector), both by emailing documents to myself and transferring them onto USB. They haven't hunted me down yet!

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 27/07/2021 19:15

How can you possibly say that without knowing individual contract details?

Because only a completely drunk or high lawyer would write a contract for an employee which allowed the employee's work for the company to belong to the employee.

Anything you create in the course of your work for a company belongs to that company. Otherwise the legal problems for them would be horrendous

Fleetw00d · 27/07/2021 19:33

Can you print it off?

Cherrysoup · 27/07/2021 19:40

Intellectual property, does that make it yours? Or the company’s because you created it on company time? Tricky. I created lots of content during lockdown using my personal laptop-no choice as I didn’t have a work computer. Therefore lots of content is on it. Should I delete it all (no company secrets or anything) if I move on??

SmokeyDevil · 27/07/2021 19:48

@pleasedonttextmyman

There's a reason why many places show you the door the minute you hand up your notice. Nothing personal!

In my company, the IT department would be well aware that you are living and would routinely keep an eye on what you are doing.

I won't go into more details and tell people how to go round that! Grin

This is what I was meaning. Small companies generally have nothing security wise. Big companies do, and you'd be shocked at what they do notice, or should be noticing. Like people saying they would use a USB stick. Grin That's just waving a neon banner saying 'come and get me' on our systems. For one thing, it wouldn't connect, and for another, an alert would trigger which would then cause your manager to get harassed asking why you did it.

Emails are tracked too in most big companies, and they can see who you are sending to. Some companies don't even allow emails to or from hosts like Hotmail etc.

Do love it when people say their company is way more relaxed about this stuff. They shouldn't be. The relaxed ones are currently getting hit with ransomware and having data stolen, or the company is having to pay to renew all its IT. That's a big bill for a lot of companies... redundancies will probably follow not long after. All because someone clicked a link they shouldn't have.

Susannahmoody · 27/07/2021 19:52

Can you print it off?
^

This. They'll never realise

AllTheSingleLadiess · 27/07/2021 19:53

Most smartphones can cope with scanning a printed letter. Print it out, scan and shred.

Jumpingintosummer · 27/07/2021 19:55

You created them because they paid you to do so. They purchased your intellectual property.

TheKeatingFive · 27/07/2021 20:02

USB. Better to do it before you hand in your notice though.

MorganKitten · 27/07/2021 20:27

@Hairybaker

No personal data involved. I am aware that the info is theirs legally even though I created it all.
If you are aware then you know you’d be in the wrong to take it.
LadyJaye · 27/07/2021 20:32

@Battleneck

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.

I'm a director in information systems management / infosec.

If I found out you had done this in my company, your feet wouldn't touch the ground between leaving your desk and getting out the door.

In saying that, it doesn't sound like your company had a lot of nous about them, so I admire your initiative. Grin

(Seriously, though, OP - unless you work for total fuckwits, don't do this.)

LadyJaye · 27/07/2021 20:33

@Susannahmoody

Can you print it off? ^

This. They'll never realise

Do you currently live in the 21st century?
JohnnyEnglish · 27/07/2021 20:33

I am a criminal defence lawyer and am aware of several cases where employers reported this data theft to police. Some also to the Information Commissioners Office. In my opinion that boat has sailed. The time to print it without raising any eyebrows was the weeks before you resigned. Many companies now (law firms especially) track your IT as soon as you resign. Don’t risk it. In relation to USBs my last two employers had IT blocks on USBs and you had to get special permission from IT to use a USB and then you were watched using it. It’s absolutely not worth it. If you have a secretary or colleague you really trust email to them and they can print it for you. Don’t walk out of building with any paperwork- security can stop and search you. Post it to yourself.

Strikemepink · 27/07/2021 20:40

@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.
This for me, too.
Foolsrule · 27/07/2021 20:47

@Battleneck

‘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.’

Are you serious?! How on earth can you think this is ok?!

youvegottenminuteslynn · 27/07/2021 20:58

I assumed @Battleneck was being sarcastic or goady as nobody would actually do that, surely?! With bills and rent / mortgage to pay, take the risk of losing you job by doing something so obviously against any company's policy... foolish to say the least. Selfish, if they have any dependents.

LolaButt · 27/07/2021 21:09

When I’ve created a great template, I save it in a folder on my laptop like the rest of the team.

Before leaving I would just ask permission to take a copy of the blank template, and would likely be told yes.

Not every company is so petty as to not allow that.

Battleneck · 27/07/2021 21:12

@youvegottenminuteslynn

I assumed *@Battleneck* was being sarcastic or goady as nobody would actually do that, surely?! With bills and rent / mortgage to pay, take the risk of losing you job by doing something so obviously against any company's policy... foolish to say the least. Selfish, if they have any dependents.
If you company is completely disorganised, and you are a competent employee on average pay, and don't really want the job that much... maybe worth the risk. No dependents back than!
Battleneck · 27/07/2021 21:15

[quote Foolsrule]@Battleneck

‘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.’

Are you serious?! How on earth can you think this is ok?![/quote]
Data has been kept securely, much of it deleted, and none used in a way that could harm the old business (no trying to compete or use protected data). Talking 20 years ago!

And I did have legitimate reasons (training/ qualification ) to need to make sure that the company didn't lose my personal work which I needed for qualification purposes.

Foolsrule · 27/07/2021 21:31

@youvegottenminuteslynn - sounds like they weren’t!

@Battleneck - I’m speechless. I don’t think that could have been justified even then.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 27/07/2021 21:41

Twenty years ago was 2001 @Battleneck, not some lawless yesteryear! You were lucky to get away with that.

Neondisco · 27/07/2021 22:01

@BuffySummersReportingforSanity

How can you possibly say that without knowing individual contract details?

Because only a completely drunk or high lawyer would write a contract for an employee which allowed the employee's work for the company to belong to the employee.

Anything you create in the course of your work for a company belongs to that company. Otherwise the legal problems for them would be horrendous

Ok cool you know it all. Its not remotely unheard of in the cultural sector to retain copyright or intellectual property over your work.

Why do people on mumsnet assume everyone has the same experience?

Also not every one works for a company, which implies buisnesses. It's as if people have different experiences.

NiceGerbil · 27/07/2021 22:04

Strictly speaking obv a no-no.

Some companies track this stuff (or say they do!)

In practice if you don't share it and have left I don't imagine they'd do anything. It's not like plans for a nuclear missile or something.

Or is it??!!