What should I do? Conservative Porn

[TwoHandedLayup]

I am the computer geek for a company and one employee was recently terminated. I receive the PCs back. Yesterday, a nice young conservative church going Republican gun nut, was fired. I was copying his data over and saw escorts fly across the screen. I decided to look at his cookies and this nice Republican has cookies from escort services all over his company laptop from wherever he traveled.

Should I report it to HR or his manager that fired him? Or just sit on it and let it go? He is my age and has two kids that are my kids ages as well. I think he is a dumbass scumbag.

[RB TexLa]

1. I'd consider it none of my business

[CabalPowered]

2. I don't think it will matter much.

Most HR departments will not comment on terminations. Most companies will only verify employment dates. Beyond that, I think the only question that can be legally answered is, "would you rehire this person?"

[KingFlorez]

3. It's a company computer, I think it should be reported

Just for the fact the computer was used for inappropriately.

[BOSSHOG]

4. What was he terminated for?

Does the company have a written policy of private/personal use of compters at work? The computers belong to the company and they have a right to know what is on them. Do you know the guy? You may want to contact him and tell him what you found and that he might consider telling the company himself. Were any of the sites you saw criminal in nature (under age kids?)

[TwoHandedLayup]

31. He is still getting paid

by the company in a severance package. I think I feel bad for his wife and kids. My kids are the same age and have played with his kids at company functions. His termination was performance based.

[BOSSHOG]

34. I'd at least let him know what you found

and tell him because of his wife and kids you will not pursue the situation any further; but that he might feel better if he let his loved ones know. Maybe it will weigh heavily on his conscience (if he has one.) Maybe it will stop him from such action in the future.

[dogday]

45. What does your job require you to do?

My husband has to run reports of those people who sneak on the internet... He does not like it, but as part of his job as Administrator, he does what his job duties demand of him....


This guy is a freak having these pictures on his work computer... That is alll......

[atreides1]

5. No, just let it go

Unless he was fired for something related to his use of the PC, then it's not important, besides, HR
can't do any more then they've already done.

[Kber]

6. Inform HR

He's already been fired, but in case there is any chance of a wrongful term suit or, if there is a question about severance pay, it will strengthen the company's hand in negotiations.

It will probably never be an issue unless he tries to make an issue of being fired for some reason.

It would probably be against your company's policy to tell anyone else, including the employee's x-boss.

But juicy gossip none the less!

[roamer65]

40. I agree, you need to inform HR

if any issue ever comes up surrounding this guy (i.e. wrongful termination suit, etc) and the company finds out you were privy to his "misdeeds" and said nothing, they could cause problems for you. Just inform someone at HR of exactly what you found on his computer, write down who you talked with and the date/time you talked with them. Then you are protected. CYOA, man.

[Bake]

50. If he's getting a severance package, he probably waived

any possibility of filing a wrongful discharge lawsuit in exchange for the severance. He's gone, fired, there's not much point in doing anything further. You could mention it to your supervisor, and let him/her do whatever he/she thinks best with that info.

Personally, I'd stay out of it.

Bake

[Rosemary2205]

7. Well if you want to be a REAL jerk.

You'll go to a payphone, call his wife, and tell her hubby was using escort services all over the country and she should protect herself so she don't catch some nasty disease from the idiot husband.

[RB TexLa]

10. And so what if when she says something he choses to "put her in her place"

with a tiretool or hammer.

[Rosemary2205]

28. I've noticed

Your posts regarding women often involve violence.

[RB TexLa]

30. I don't think any of them have

this post what pointing out what violence could happen by the actions you promoted.

[Rosemary2205]

44. I stand by my statement

I almost let it go because I hate pissing matches and confrontations. I've read at least 4 of your posts in the last 2 weeks that brought up violence to women or how women needed protection from violent men and I just really felt compelled to mention it. I hope you'll just think about is all.

[Irreverend IX]

8. Send the info to his wife. nt

[kitkat65]

24. That would be a probable cause for the OPer to be fired.

As tempting as it is . . .

[blogslut]

9. You've never seen

adult content on a company PC before? How long have you been the IT guy?

[TwoHandedLayup]

18. Of course I have

But most of it has been a few pictures. This is a bit more detailed. I have reported it in the past.

[blogslut]

20. Wow

Okay.

[TwoHandedLayup]

25. Large company

with a tight firewall. I am lucky to get to DU.

[blogslut]

29. No, I mean the turning it in thing

If someone had CP on their PC, I would report them in a heartbeat. But regular adult content? I guess if there were gigs and gigs of it...

The escort thing, well, if you can establish the guy used company money or company bandwidth to set up a hookup, that is reportable. But just a few pictures? Oh well, I guess that's what comes when the company owns the machines.

Glad I work for myself.

[TwoHandedLayup]

38. We have policies in place

and I have to CYA most of the time. I usually don't look for things, but was curious when I saw the escorts fly across the screen when copying data off of the laptop.

I would love to work for myself, but need the insurance for the family right now.

[blogslut]

42. I can dig it.

Gotta do what ya gotta do.

[OzarkDem]

51. Protect yourself

If its against company policy... Your job is important. They'll figure out the rest about this guy.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Would you report it if he was a Democrat who admitted to using escorts?

If not, then don't report it now.

[Taxloss]

12. Do nothing. The man is fired, out of your life.

Any further action would be horribly vindictive - spiting a human being for their politics. I can only imagine how strongly DU would condemn this if a Repub sysadmin did anything with this information to a DUer - and condemnation would be the right response. Acting on this information cannot be regarded as ethical. Step away.

[NashVegas]

17. Agreed

Unless it's kiddie porn, there's no point.

[Taxloss]

21. Well, in that case a felony would have been committed.

And the man should be reported.

[Ravy]

13. Do the same as you would if it was on a liberal's computer. (n/t)

[Warpy]

14. He was canned, so he's already not getting a reference

but you might as well let them know, cover your own butt.

Chances are that's the farthest it will ever go, unless he had an expense account that they start checking. If he padded it to cover escort services, he may be prosecuted, and he should be.

[kitkat65]

26. What? You mean hookers aren't covered by the stipend?! n/t

[Marnieworld]

15. I'm the Computer Geek too

And if the guy was already terminated and I was just wiping the PC, I'd just let it go. Sure I might spread a little gossip (too juicy to keep to myself no?) but I wouldn't tell the management. But if it was an active employee and somehow I came across this info I don't know how I'd handle it. Perhaps just a company-wide memo detailing what sorts of info can be retained on a PC and a warning about if activity is detected that is against whatever policy then blah blah steps would be taken blah blah. Escort Services. But if it was something like kiddie porn different steps.

Funny thing is, the only thing I've ever found on any computer was malware that could only be received from porn sites. Which computer? Well only the Boss' son V.P. Born-Again Super duper freeper that's who! Bible meetings every week, uses phrase such as "left coast" and has Fox News as his home page. So it only amuses me whenever I see or hear his hypocrisy now. :P

[TwoHandedLayup]

22. That is what strikes me too

Why is it always the hypocrisy that they don't get? Can't have gay marriage, but I can cheat on my wife anytime I am on the road. He is getting a severance package from us which complicates the scenario.

[Marnieworld]

32. Are you the only geek there?

Is there a policy in place or some sort of standard protocol to follow. I'm the only geek so it really is my discretion. Even with the severance I'd probably let it go unless he did something really unethical such as charge the escort fees to the company or used the equipment itself in the endeavor (web cam, I dunno?) If you really scoured it all and determined that he was scheduling these dates while working it's something but still when is a salaried employee off the clock, especially on the road?

The hypocrisy is infuriating but revealing this person's secret life could totally destroy his marriage and impact the children etc. Since he's already gone you should let it go.

[TwoHandedLayup]

35. I am it

I will let it go and reimage. The data is backed up on a server if something were to come up regarding charging to company or something.

I should be used to the hypocrisy by now, but it always strikes me.

[DeSwiss]

16. Anything from Foley??? Just askin.... n/t

:spank:

[NashVegas]

19. The Only Thing You Need to Talk to HR About

Is to make sure they notify all employees they've got no business using company property to engage in illegal acts.

[ComerPerro]

23. If he's terminated, it doesn't matter. Unless a crime was committed. BUT

you can use this information to blackmail him...


He might get angry, but the "true conservative" inside him will admire you for your ruthlessness and your awareness, and your cutthroat, "win at all costs", "no human life isn't worth risking for money" attitude.

[lies and propaganda]

27. he'd it to you

more then likely...

[Greyhound]

33. When you say you are the computer geek it raises a potential problem.

If your title/job description is such that you are officially responsible for IT related issues, then you need to report it in case there are any potential liabilities that may rise in the future. If you are not an official computer geek, just the guy that knows more than the others in your office and your actual jobs is something else, then no problem, unless future black-mail/exposure is a possibility (several publications will pay big $$ for this kind of crap if he should become a person of notoriety in the future, plus the satisfaction of bringing down another "God approves of torture" hypocrite).

[TwoHandedLayup]

36. I am a true geek

analyst, support tech, phone guy, whatever adn we do have policies in place to report it. I am going to let it slide, but backup the data for a year on a server for CYA purposes.

[npincus]

37. only if it's your job to do so.

if someone else should notice or know about it and you didn't report it, bad for you.

[meisje]

39. A. It's none of your business B. Sine he did nothing wrong, you may get

fired as well.

[Catherine Vincent]

41. Just act like a conservative and turn that hypocrite in although he's

already terminated. Make his life miserable.

[hvn_nbr_2]

43. You may have a responsibility to your employer to preserve the data.

Do you know why he was fired? If the reasons are even tangentially related to the sorts of things you found on his computer, that data could be valuable in the potential event of a wrongful termination lawsuit or any other kind of adverse event.

It would probably be good to make discreet inquiries with or pass discreet suggestions to HR, your boss, and/or his ex-boss.

[TlalocW]

46. SAVE IT

Just in case he ever runs for political office. :)

TlalocW

[TwoHandedLayup]

48. LOL

nice. It is on backup tapes already.

[DaveJ]

47. You want to start blocking websites?

If you're the I.T. man, you run the show, so it's your decision. The interesting part of it is that reporting the incident may cause more work for your department in terms of having to start blocking websites. If that is a project you want to partake in start keeping a trail of these incidents and do a profit analysis. If not, chalk it up to human nature and let it go. I have no desire to be big brother (oh ya I have a similar job). Plus this is a lot simpler since the guy is already fired. If he were still working there I would look into the company manual and see what it says about reporting people.

The last company I worked for Republicans were getting fired left and right, but that was because they tended to show up late, they didn't work hard, they had a habit of acting too cocky, etc.

[TwoHandedLayup]

49. Update

As per my company policy I reported it. Not based on the fact there was porn, but based on the fact it was escort services. HR is going to discreetly look over his credit card receipts for any discrepancies or charges for services rendered. If nothing is there, then it dies there.

He is still getting paid by the company as a severance package and I hate to do this, but I have rules too. And I need to cover my ass. Thanks for all the input.

[Leopolds Ghost]

52. Why am I reminded of the Second Book of "Les Miserables"?

Geez, destroy his family too while you're at it.

This is the attitude of the Neoliberal Meritocracy: Information is Power and Us Computer Geeks are Destined to Rule. Oh yeah, and cover yer ass. Don't spare any remorse for others... they need to be "retrained" and fired anyway...