I worked for a company that makes products.
Staff can buy a limited number of those products from a web site.
The web site is USELESS, really really slow and some of the products are out of stock.
People waste time going (trying) to the site to see if something's in stock or been added/changed.
I hate wasting time, so I made a scraper (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_scraping), it told me and anybody else in the company who was interested, what changes there had been and it was fast.
I got fired for it.
They said I used it for personal benefit, it was unsanctioned, using company resources and copied copy write material.
So they fired me with no notice period.
I've got options, it was just embarrassing and kind of OTT... I was just saving people time.
And since I got no notice, it's cut off my income.
I'm thinking about suing them for "Unfair Dismissal"... but they're legal team had to OK it... I know him and he's good.
You will have a ripper resume now, stating you used initiative to assist people in navigating a web site which was poorly designed and management ignored.
I think it is pretty poor of them
Geez that's a bit harsh , I'm suggesting you get some Industrial Relations Advice Fly - if you can prove or provide evidence that what you were doing was an attempt to improve the business then you probably have a good case.
But do it very quickly - like first thing Monday if not tomorrow mate (being Saturday I know)
Just watch what you're putting up here though too mate - ok?
Hope it works out for you too eh! - Pup D
Fly- I would go and get some advice pretty quickly,
I am pretty sure you have 2 weeks from date of termination to initiate a claim for unfair dismissal. Dont leave it until day 13 to act!
It sounds like they were just looking for a reason- and I would imagine the onus is on the employer to prove you had intended to do what ever it was you are supposed to have done for all the wrong reasons (self profit) instead of saving the company time by increasing efficiency (while unintentionally bending rules you were not aware of?)
It could be that the companies I.T. bloke that runs the website had a panic when he saw his domain being threatened by someone who knows what they are doing- so he trumped up the charges to make it look like he was more important and indespensable than he really is.
Stephen.
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Nevermind flysurfer.
I got fired from my very first job.
I consider it one of the highlights of my dull, colourless and boring life.
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I did the wrongful dismissal thing back in 2003. I basically got three months pay but had to wait six months for it and they subtracted what I had earned in the meantime. I was also very fortunate to have good connections and a great relationship with the CFMEU.
Aside from getting a bit of a kick out of making the bloke who fired me look like a complete nong it really was not worth all the effort. You do not get your job back and it was pretty time consuming so I would say that, unless you have a great desire to stick it in to someone or you are really hard up for the moola, ( which will take a long time in coming anyway), forget about it.
I would tend to agree with Japie... Put your efforts into your next job... Sounds like you are more than half clued up, and you skills would probably be more useful and more valuable to someone else...
As a rule of thumb, 10 out of 10 people who leave a job and/or get redundancy end up with a better job and more pay within 2-3 months... In 2 out of 5 instances, people are lucky enough to get a 3-6 month pay out, and get a better job within that period anyway!!
In your case, they have probably taken the "serious breach" route, and fire on the spot, and get away without paying the entitlements.
No serious harm in initiating unfair dismissal, but if they can prove a breach of copyright... I'd say you are screwed... The fact that you have copied info and dropped it onto another site... on the surface you look a fraction screwed...
As I said, get yourself another job... In 6 months time you might even reflect on the fact that they did you a favour... Sounded like you didn't like the joint anyway!
The flip side of the coin... You can be a little bit antagonistic on here, on the odd occasion... Were they actually fed up with your crap!
If you are really good programmer just play forex with me
In a year or so you should be able to buy your old company and fire the person that fired you.
)
Hey Flysurfer, this is a fun situation.
I have the pleasure of hiring and firing at times, often entertaining.
You have to admit they have a bit of a point - inside knowledge, positioning yourself for competing (possibly), using company equipment for undeclared work, that sort of cr*p. Large companies have agreements for these things. Official usage of company equipment only for so-so, etc. Scraping is always controversial, at best, too.
Firing on the spot without a minimum 2-week package? This is rare. I as an employer, would make sure the entire legal dep't is involved and gave me written advice - too dicey for my own taste.
Looking into possibly claiming costs nothing, I think.
However if the other side decides to be vindictive, things could drag and get quite emotional.
Anyhow, all the best, let us know how it pans out.
Carry one of those helmet webcams if you meet them to negotiate
