Managers-Don’t Leave Your Computers Unattended!!!

Let me give you an actual scenario. A manager hired an African-American man to assist with an upcoming sales event. After two weeks the newly hired employee became troublesome and the relationship deteriorated. After a very brief meeting to try and work out their differences, the employee left threatening to speak with an attorney.

The next morning the employee came into work, did not punch in, and waited for his manager to arrive. The manager came in, turned on his computer and left his office to get his morning cup of coffee. This was his regular routine.

The employee, upon seeing his manager leave, slipped into the manager’s office and sent himself a derogatory email back to his own computer as if the manager had sent it to him. The email included the use of the “N” word! Oh yes, you are reading this correctly!! He sent the email to himself  using the “N” word as if the manager  had sent it!! The manager, upon his return, noticed an email had been sent but obviously knew that he had not sent anything. He read the email that he had supposedly sent and was appalled.

The employee returned to his own office, printed the email out, typed up a letter of resignation and left the premises. In the letter of resignation he stated that he could not work for someone who treated their employee that way (words in the email) and was going to seek the advice of counsel.

This actually happend last week. How do you think this is going to turn out?? Well let me tell you! The company has cameras with video. We were able to capture the employee on video at the exact time he entered and left the office. The times noted on the pictures were consistent with the time noted on the email. I can’t wait for his attorney to contact the employer! 

This guy was very clever and it sends a clear message to managers and supervisors to be cautious about leaving their computers unattended and, by the way, not safeguarding passwords. Who knows what other mischief an employee can get into by accessing their supervisor’s computer!