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Updated OP: I just lost my job for going above and beyond.

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Acanthus said:
I did not even think about authorization for use of the command prompt until after the shitstorm. It should not be needed.
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You should have thought about it, since you knew that it was company policy to keep IT completely separate from your department, except with prior authorization.

You don't have to agree with all company policies, but you'd better live by them, if you want to keep your job.
 
Acanthus said:
IT is not allowed in our department without special authorization from our Director.

Furthermore, the only other person whom could authorize had left the company, hence the open position.
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Well, sorry buddy but you took a chance. I know you meant well and you took initiative but sometimes in life it can backfire.

Sorry about your being fired. Hope you get back on your feet soon.
 
sixone said:
You should have thought about it, since you knew that it was company policy to keep IT completely separate from your department, except with prior authorization.

You don't have to agree with all company policies, but you'd better live by them, if you want to keep your job.
Click to expand...

We actually had zero training in this area. It was not known until after the fact.
 
Acanthus said:
Is this wrongful termination? I don't know how the law works.
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WTF? They fired you over this?

ipconfig /all
tracert
nbtstat
netstat
arp -a
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How did they even know you issued any of these commands?

Everything was local except for tracert. That is going to send packets out.

The fact that you could open up cmd and successfully run any of these means you had implicit permissions to do so. You didn't download anything, install anything, or change anything.

Yes I think it is the termination was unlawful. Even if you're in a state where companies can lay off employees freely, if they give a specific reason, then that reason needs to be valid.

What was the exact reason of termination?
 
SagaLore said:
WTF? They fired you over this?



How did they even know you issued any of these commands?

Everything was local except for tracert. That is going to send packets out.

The fact that you could open up cmd and successfully run any of these means you had implicit permissions to do so. You didn't download anything, install anything, or change anything.

Yes I think it is the termination was unlawful. Even if you're in a state where companies can lay off employees freely, if they give a specific reason, then that reason needs to be valid.

What was the exact reason of termination?
Click to expand...

"tampering with surveillance equipment"
 
sixone said:
You needed a command prompt to get there. Just like opening an unlocked drawer.
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I'm getting the feeling you are not qualified to comment on the technical details of this topic. :hmm:

Oh wait I get it. You're being HR's devil's advocate. 😀
 
SagaLore said:
WTF? They fired you over this?



How did they even know you issued any of these commands?

Everything was local except for tracert. That is going to send packets out.

The fact that you could open up cmd and successfully run any of these means you had implicit permissions to do so. You didn't download anything, install anything, or change anything.

Yes I think it is the termination was unlawful. Even if you're in a state where companies can lay off employees freely, if they give a specific reason, then that reason needs to be valid.

What was the exact reason of termination?
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No it doesn't, but it would definitely show pretext. OP would have to be able to show some form of unlawful discrimination first (assuming OP is in the US).
 
PenguinPower said:
No it doesn't, but it would definitely show pretext. OP would have to be able to show some form of unlawful discrimination first (assuming OP is in the US).
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The best i've got is inconsistency.

As i've said earlier, someone installed a wireless router on the surveillance network with the intention of breaking the internet block (he failed lol) and was caught by IT in the process.

He was promoted.
 
SagaLore said:
What was the machine you were on? A shared desktop? Your own laptop? A server? Someone else's workstation?

What else was installed on it? What was it used for?
Click to expand...

It was our workstation that we work from. Assigned to me, but assigned to others during other shifts. It had surveillance monitoring apps on it, office, and a bunch of other apps we never used.
 
Hey OP,

Change your job. Move to a different city if you can. Seriously. There are other better companies out there that can use your expertise.
 
Acanthus said:
The best i've got is inconsistency.

As i've said earlier, someone installed a wireless router on the surveillance network with the intention of breaking the internet block (he failed lol) and was caught by IT in the process.

He was promoted.
Click to expand...

Was this "someone" a different color, race, nationality, sex or religion than you? Have you recently been on job-protected leave? Do you have, or are you regarded as having, a disability?
 
PenguinPower said:
Was this "someone" a different color, race, nationality, sex or religion than you? Have you recently been on job-protected leave? Do you have, or are you regarded as having, a disability?
Click to expand...

Different religion, and I could be classified as disabled but I never disclosed that information to my employer.
 
sixone said:
That in itself should have told you that approval was required for you to enter their area of expertise. If there's no one who can authorize it, it's NOT AUTHORIZED.
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why would using the basic functions of the workstation assigned to you require authorization...?

oh i forgot! white text on black background... must be hacking (I've gotten a comment to this end while using cmd, jesus I hate people)

To be frank, your boss wanted to screw you over and did so. Not much you can do about it. 🙁
 
videogames101 said:
why would using the basic functions of the workstation assigned to you require authorization...?

oh i forgot! white text on black background... must be hacking (I've gotten a comment to this end while using cmd, jesus I hate people)

To be frank, your boss wanted to screw you over and did so. Not much you can do about it. 🙁
Click to expand...

I'm going to the VP of the facility for a meeting to try to get it overturned. I don't want to work there anymore, but I can't have a bad reference on my record.
 
Acanthus said:
It was our workstation that we work from. Assigned to me, but assigned to others during other shifts. It had surveillance monitoring apps on it, office, and a bunch of other apps we never used.
Click to expand...

Okay. Then it is considered surveillance equipment.

Does your employee handbook have anything about disciplinary process, performance evaluations, etc.?
 
Acanthus said:
Well i'll have to change careers now since my only employer in the field will give me bad references.
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You said you're good with networking and stuff. Why don't you get Cisco/Microsoft certified and go after high paying networking jobs?

Start searching for another job. While you are searching, study these certifications and learn. Acquire more skills along the way.

It seemed like your company employed a lot of non-skilled idiots. Don't be one of them.
 
SagaLore said:
Okay. Then it is considered surveillance equipment.

Does your employee handbook have anything about disciplinary process, performance evaluations, etc.?
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It literally says "tampering with surveillance cameras or equipment can be grounds for immediate termination"

tampering is not defined, what is or isnt equipment is not defined, there is literally no IT policy whatsoever in the handbook.
 
senttoschool said:
You said you're good with networking and stuff. Why don't you get Cisco/Microsoft certified and go after high paying networking jobs?

Start searching for another job. While you are searching, study these certifications and learn. Acquire more skills along the way.

It seemed like your company employed a lot of non-skilled idiots. Don't be one of them.
Click to expand...

I'm very close to my CCENT.

The problem is all jobs available in networking want a 4 year degree.
 
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