Techie Frustrations

[Zanthian]

I work as the IT department for my company. We have service technicians out in the field and we supply them with a very nice setup for free to them. A Laptop, cell phone, digital camera, memory stick, mouse, bag, cases for everything... and we recently had a technician who decided to leave the company. I am guessing that he didn't like his job to much based on the equipment I got back.

I am attaching images of the phone front and back and the computer screen.
The camera was not to be found and the printer had spit from some chew on the front... nice.

[Zanthian]

more pictures:

[TheBaron]

gross

[FormFactor]

Dude, wtf? That sux! Can ya take it out of his last check?

[Zanthian]

we are going to try... he has a $1700 check due to him, but i think we might need to eat that check and it still won't make up for all the stuff.

That was a fun way to start the week. :shakehead

[Jengo]

whoa... what is that? (next to the printer)

[Thrax]

A grossly cracked LCD.

[GHoosdum]

You're not held responsible for any of that, are you?

[Zanthian]

Luckily no, the Technicians sign that they receive the equipment and that it will be return to us when they leave the company in working order.

[Clutch]

Wow, that sucks. Take his whole paycheck and then some if you can. Heck, you might want to get a lawyer in.

[muddocktor]

What a damn shame! :mean: Your company definitely needs to garnish his whole last check and then some. I don't know if it would be worth it monitarily to sic the lawyers on him but it would sure be fun.;D

People like that ruin good things for everyone else. :shakehead

[RWB]

Well, if he signed the papers, then he is legally obligated to do as he signed. Maybe add a few words in about owning his soul while you're at it.

[Dexter]

I agree with RWB, Mudd and Clutch. Send him a note indicating that as per his agreement of blah-blah date (attached copy for reference) he did not return the gear in proper working order. Since the damage is obviously either intentional or the result of gross neglect he is responsible for it. If the items have been in this state for some time, he was obligated to inform the employer of that, so again, he was negligent.

However, don't sic your lawyers on him. Keep the cheque, tell him why, and make him pay a lawyer to come after you for it. That will cost him more than it is worth. He can try going to the labour board, but his signature on the equipment form should end that discussion right there.

Dexter...

[Guyute]

BTW if he didn't sign anything I don't think you can take money out of his cheque. My wife's old psycho boss did that and got away with it, but the Government Idiot taking care of the case did say it is extremely illegal, EXCEPT in the case of if the money is taken off because of clawed-back draw owed. In Canada, if a boss wants to take money out of your cheque-they can't LEGALLY. They are obliged to hand your cheque over to you and take you to court. AND that cheque, and any leaving papers, MUST be ready within 7 calendar days. The reality is that the Agency that looks over this for the employee is so swamped that by the time they actually get to calling you, you can't even remember the boss' name. The boss usually wins.

Essentially, in Canada at least, any part of an employer/employee contract that contravenes existing labour laws is just wasted typing, so even if the guy signed a waiver saying that you could take his house, his car and his neighbor's dog, the reality is that part of the contract is null and void. He can traipse out of there laughing. At least until the sheriff shows up to serve him.