Fired staff get own back against company

HELL hath no fury like an employee scorned, according to research which found that almost half of workers unhappy at losing their job seek revenge against their former employer.

The research conducted for business solutions provider Novell also found that 8% of disgruntled ex-employees would delete files or let a virus loose on the company’s computer system.

The survey, which was confined to office workers, reveals that workers who decide to target their former company can cause havoc in a number of ways if they are dissatisfied when leaving a company.

Novell Ireland business development manager Kevin McAteer revealed that they found employers were sloppy when it came to revoking access rights to company resources and data such as the company network, mobile phones, gym memberships etc that are now commonplace in companies.

“This study shows that former employees will take liberties if companies are simply slack in cancelling such perks and this can result in a substantial loss to Irish business,” he said.

Worryingly for managers, the survey found that one in two of the 300-plus workers surveyed would forward sensitive information to a former colleague.

The survey also found that 13% of people would access their former employer’s computer networks without asking permission.

“Losing your job is upsetting whatever the circumstances and employers must handle the situation in a sensitive and professional manner.

“What’s concerning is the impact that former employees could have on the remaining staff. The costs will be felt throughout an organisation and could impact on pay, bonuses and benefits,” he added.

The survey found that 53% of ex-employees would take advantage of company paid for privileges such as mobile phones, gym memberships, and health insurance if companies failed to cancel payment.

British workers, it would appear, are more vengeful that their Irish counterparts as a similar study revealed that 79% of British workers would forward sensitive company information to a former colleague even if they were working for a rival firm, almost double that of Irish employees. While more British workers would take revenge on a former employer than Irish workers they were less likely to badmouth the company (34% versus 45% in Ireland) preferring tactics such as sending bosses a nasty email (10% versus 2%). British workers were also more likely to take contacts (63% versus 32%), customer leads (38% versus 23%) and examples of their best work (67% versus 48%).

Irish office workers also do well when it comes to perks. The survey found that: 43% receive paid or subsidised company mobile phones; 35% receive company health insurance; 27% of people receive company cars and 17% have a company laptop.