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Subject:Re: An ugly job incident (long) From:Barry Kieffer <barry -dot- kieffer -at- EXGATE -dot- TEK -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 20 Oct 1998 08:41:47 -0700
Anon wrote:
> Questions:
>
> Do you think I was wrong to throw away notes and old edited documents?
>
YES! Old notes and documents are the property of your employer. You created
the notes on company time, doing company business. If you wanted a copy for
yourself - well that is debatable. But deleting old documents from the
server, and throwing away old documents, friend, you don't have a leg to
stand on.
> Have any of you had something similar happen, like being accused of
> stealing?
>
Nope.
> Do you think I have legal recourse if I don't receive my severance?
> Is this a clear case of defamation of character?
>
Legal recourse?!
Defamation of character?!
You admitted to the crime!
You be lucky if this don't dog you and keep you from ever getting hired as a
TW again!
I would gladly hire a mediocre worker, but I have got to trust the person.
Without trust - you ain't got nothing.
If I ever checked references and the reference said: They were a great
technical writer, but they deleted documents from the server just before
they were laid off."