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Two weeks ago, I could not believe what I was doing. It was the first time that I hated being in HR.
We had an employee who worked for 28 years in our organization. He was fired because of misuse
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Sad..
posted at 1/22/2010 10:26 PM EST
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Posts: 14
First: 9/10/2004 Last: 4/16/2010 |
Two weeks ago, I could not believe what I was doing. It was the first time that I hated being in HR.
We had an employee who worked for 28 years in our organization. He was fired because of misuse of government computer (sending emails that had porn). I worked with that guy for fifteen years!! He was such a nice person. I was also beothered by the management's action. Terminating an employee who has served all these years without taking any kind of gradual reprimand or at least give him a warning letter. The management decided to get rid of him rather than take advantage of the incident and send a clear message to all employees on certain actions at the workplace. Another employee had another incident with the management which ended in an investigation and then termination of the other employee. The morale of the employees has been down. Everyone walks like he/she is targeted and their turn could be at any moment. I felt that I needed to share this with you all to see what you would say if you were in my situation! |
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Sad..
posted at 1/23/2010 3:04 AM EST
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Posts: 155
First: 8/24/2009 Last: 2/9/2010 |
I would support management. The inappropriate use of a company computer, especially in this manner, puts the company at risk.
While it is perfectly fine to be sad over the termination of an employee it is not fine, in this instance, to be angry or upset with management. |
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Sad..
posted at 1/23/2010 6:42 AM EST
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Posts: 562
First: 11/12/2009 Last: 9/14/2011 |
I absolutely agree with HRPro. Use of government provided computer equipment to transmit pornography is a very serious offense. I think your co-worker also had a very serious problem as evidenced by his actions - it's not like government hides its stance on use of government computers, so he had ample warning.
I'd have fired him too regardless if I were in the public or private sector. |
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Sad..
posted at 1/23/2010 12:09 PM EST
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
And I am sorry..he might seem nice, but if he has to use a government, work-owned computer to transmit porn, then he has real issues. Any employee who does so at any job should know they are risking that job. Honestly, don't feel sorry for him at all.
Hate to disagree with you but the management did send a VERY clear message to everyone else by his termination. I am not so sure a reprimand where he keeps his job would have done so. Too many times, employers refuse to make the hard choice of termination. And the employees know that they will just get a letter/warning and don't really care. This termination sent a very clear message about what will and will not be tolerated. If an employee has a problem, maybe this isn't the employer for them. |
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posted at 1/24/2010 2:05 AM EST
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Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Him being "such a nice person" is not a valid reason for maintaining the employment of a thief and a pornographer (and yes, the personal use of someone else's computer systems without permission is theft, and sending pornographic emails makes the sender a pornographer). Lots of people thought - still think! - Ted Bundy was a "nice person." |
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posted at 1/25/2010 5:09 AM EST
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
And as HR, you work for management, not the "nice guy". Sometimes it puts you in a situation such as this where you internlly disagree. But externally, I would show no signs of your personal disagreement. It could be a career limiting move for you if you do.
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posted at 1/25/2010 10:51 AM EST
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Posts: 464
First: 6/30/2004 Last: 11/22/2010 |
We have fired the two people we caught surfing porn on company equipment. We generally warn people first who are using our resources for personal business or who forward inappropriate material ( jokes, picutes, etc). After a warning we do a write-up which means no raise next time around. |
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posted at 1/26/2010 2:44 AM EST
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Posts: 237
First: 7/10/2007 Last: 8/31/2011 |
Have had to separate several people over the years that I had known or worked with for some time. A couple of them I had even worked with in other companies. No fun but it goes with the job. In the most recent case I let the guy know ( after the separation) that I would be glad to assist him in his job search, short of giving a reference of course. |
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