Theft of corporate information ... what would you do?
Here's one for you!The company I am consulting with currently has experienced serious problems: that's why they called on me! We have resolved many issues, changed their business model, built and use a new database system (it's a recruitment company), prepared regular accounting statements rather than relying on the annual report (which contained a massive accounting error, by the way) and then worked on the staff of one.
The staff of one was a young lady of 20 years who was lazy, carried on instant messenger chats all day, flirted with the MD of a partner company by calling him between 10 and 15 times a day, every day, discussing business and intimate personal things. I believe she stole from the company and certainly used postage stamps by the dozen and when on company business would be given petrol money but never returned with a receipt or any change.
The above reflect symptoms of bad man management of course since the boss let her do all of this. More than that, the boss had it in his head that he should be taking it easier by now so he let the young lady, effectively, run large parts of his operations.
I got the boss to begin managing his staff more effectively and he did some things better but she would still close meetings when she'd said what she wanted to say, she still flirted with that MD ... and her contribution to the business generally became negative.
Two things then happened: the company ran out of cash and the young lady eventually left, with presure from the management.
We suspected, from the rumour mill that the young lady was now working with the MD she had been flirting with. This week we found this out ... what would you do now?
We called one of our clients this week on normal business and during that conversation they said that they had had a call from the young lady who was now working in the north (you guessed it, that's where the MD works!) and since our company was having difficulties and as they are not a very professional outfit would they like to work with her company? They said they were happy with us and wouldn't be changing thank you very much.
This young lady is owed some money by our company and is coming to see the boss today or tomorrow.
Task: you are the young lady's former boss as well as being the sole director of the company:
a) What will you say to the young lady when she arrives?
b) What will you do next?
Duncan Williamson
posted by Duncan Williamson @ 6:56 AM
2 Comments:
She didn't arrive and we've heard nothing more from her.
However, we did hear from a client on Monday that she has been in contact them again offering the same sort of deal as I mentioned.
I want my client to call her boss to discuss the matter and the possibility of compensation for the theft of the corporate information.
DW
She hasn't come back to us but today I called the company she now works for and told the MD what I know. Either I took him by surprise and he was unaware of what had happened or he was in on it.
He asked me to put it in writing and I said I'd rather not since I'd rather settle the matter over the phone.
Before I called him I'd looked at their web site and was interested in their page on privacy: talking about the Data Protection Acts and how they only use information generated within their company. I mentioned this in the conversation.
He didn't like the idea of settling the issue over the phone so I put my story in writing.
In my written message I said that the database under consideration was the property of someone else and that if it is being abused then someone is guilty of theft ...
Since the MD and this woman may have a friendlier relationship than just boss and employee, I suspect that in a few days wwe will receive a reply to the effect that my story is untrue ...
I'll keep you informed.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home