Someone Quit? Act Immediately To Protect Digital Data

A recent article in Wired instructed employees in how to digitally erase all their stuff when they quit their jobs. The problem is that the author drew few distinctions between wiping computers of all personal items–family photographs or videos, personal emails, etc.–and company-related work product. Most franchisors and franchisees will take the position–and rightly so!–that employees' work product on their company-issued laptops, cell phones, and voicemail accounts is company property.

The corollary to the Wired article is what the employer should shut down when an employee resigns. Whenever an employee resigns their employment, companies must be prepared to take some immediate steps: