Games Going to war with an ex-employer

[Raven]

So I fucked my job off in November and, currently loving life, got a new position set up for the new year, I have gone from 5-6 hours sleep a night and stressed to 10 hours and spending the rest of the day playing Farming Simulator or 7 days to die. I didn't like how the company was going, I fully believe "I found out too much" and they made my life difficult to the point I quit. I ended up on happy pills.

I reported to senior management (around July) that they had been miscalculating commission, for years (£10s of thousands going to the wrong people), I found an error in their calculations. I also know that their VAT submissions are basically made up on the spot. I also know that they are charging their biggest customer, ~80% of their business (a leading online retailer that sells pretty much anything you can imagine, next day, and makes shows/movies) ~500% mark up on parts, despite the contract saying 55%

Before I left, I downloaded my entire email box, so I have solid proof (they locked me out 30 minutes after I resigned)

What can I /Should I do?

Part of me says just move on, but another part says rinse them.

 

[Scouse]

Lawyer. You can claim functional dismissal - that you were forced out - and you're worth compensation.

Lawyer can tell you what's reasonable. The evidence you submit is their reason to pay you out. They'll make you sign an NDA.

Pay for lawyer. If you've got that, it'll be easy. And correct. And substantial.

That number of years, you're talking very comfortable retirement figures.

 

[DaGaffer]

So I fucked my job off in November and, currently loving life, got a new position set up for the new year, I have gone from 5-6 hours sleep a night and stressed to 10 hours and spending the rest of the day playing Farming Simulator or 7 days to die. I didn't like how the company was going, I fully believe "I found out too much" and they made my life difficult to the point I quit. I ended up on happy pills.

I reported to senior management (around July) that they had been miscalculating commission, for years (£10s of thousands going to the wrong people), I found an error in their calculations. I also know that their VAT submissions are basically made up on the spot. I also know that they are charging their biggest customer, ~80% of their business (a leading online retailer that sells pretty much anything you can imagine, next day, and makes shows/movies) ~500% mark up on parts, despite the contract saying 55%

Before I left, I downloaded my entire email box, so I have solid proof (they locked me out 30 minutes after I resigned)

What can I /Should I do?

Part of me says just move on, but another part says rinse them.

I'd check your constructive dismissal rights; that's worth a few hundred quid of anyone's time.

Beyond that...while it sounds attractive in the moment, you probably don't need the grief of trying to fuck them over. Besides, if there's any company on the planet that deserves a skimming...

 

[Tom]

You can whistleblow to the VATman, but as for anything else, I'd take legal advice. That data mightn't be yours to do with as you please.

 

[Scouse]

You can whistleblow to the VATman, but as for anything else, I'd take legal advice. That data mightn't be yours to do with as you please.

If there's evidence of criminality, then they won't care - and if they've forced him out because of it then he's right to have taken it.

 

[Raven]

Cheers all, I think I will just start sending a random emails to HQ every once in a while, and drip feed shit on them. The commission thing isn't technically illegal (I don't think) but due to a basic error in a formula they use, the wrong people have been getting commission. I Will wait before talking to the taxman, a good friend is still there, but also leaving ASAP. Not got the freedom I have. I'll discuss it with an HR mate over xmas.

 

[Scouse]

Cheers all, I think I will just start sending a random emails to HQ every once in a while, and drip feed shit on them. The commission thing isn't technically illegal (I don't think) but due to a basic error in a formula they use, the wrong people have been getting commission. I Will wait before talking to the taxman, a good friend is still there, but also leaving ASAP. Not got the freedom I have. I'll discuss it with an HR mate over xmas.

Why the hell would you send emails to them? It could really prejudice any claim you made for constructive dismissal - and more than that, it'd make you look like a cunt.

Nobody cares now but you. You've left. They're not thinking about you.

The only thing to do here is constructive dismissal. Straight to a lawyer, nobody else. Pay some money. Present your case. They may even take it on no-win no-fee.

If you don't want to do that, then just walk away and forget about it. Move on with your life. Healthier all around.


Trust me.

 

[MYstIC G]

Move on with your life. Healthier all around.


Trust me.

Not often I agree with el Scouserino but this bit 100%, fuck em you only get one life

 

[Raven]

Update. I start my new job tomorrow.

On Friday, I start sending weekly caches of information to Previous-HQ and auditors, I have 10 years of emails backed up. I intend to cause maximum chaos. Once they are fucked, I start releasing information to HMRC and the like. I have no real need for a payout. I never signed an NDA, they never asked, because management were so inept, and put all the eggs in the Amazon basket, then screwed the basket, the basket will be going elsewhere.

It's been a tough month, mentally, but I feel healed. I intend to enjoy myself, very much.

 

[Scouse]

On Friday, I start sending weekly caches of information to Previous-HQ and auditors, I have 10 years of emails backed up. I intend to cause maximum chaos. Once they are fucked, I start releasing information to HMRC and the like.

Why?

If illegal, one-shot to HMRC. You've left. It doesn't sound like the actions of someone who's healed m8. It sounds like you're still caught up in it all. Put them in the shit and move on - don't burn up your thoughts on it.

 

[Raven]

Why not? I know the MD is 3 years from retirement and fired me/made me resign to cover his own arse, so I might as well ruin his retirement. *He is the sort of dickhead that got the company to spend 10k putting in EV charging points so he (and only he, because nobody else at HQ had a company vehicle) could save tax by getting an EV.

I also know the finance manager was "moved on" from her previous position for being exactly what she is, utterly useless, with absolutely no idea how actual finance rules/laws apply.

They waited until I returned from work, after being signed off for a week, they knew my wife was near suicidal, because I had been honest with them, I had to go home to her and tell her I was no longer employed, that was a particularly dark moment in my life, thankfully family and friends all came together, and we are both in a much better place now.

They took me at my lowest, now I will ruin them, it's not against the business, though I am sure there will be fallout, it is against them, personally. I could get a payout (edit, my best man is an HR lawyer, and my sister-in-law is an HR manager at one of the largest pharmaceuticals in the county) I have taken very good advice. I could get a few grand out of them, and they could carry on, as before, but I don't want that. I want them to know misery, I want them to go home and tell their other halves that plans have changed.

There is no real thought except (crudely) revenge, new job, new year.

 

[Raven]

The HMRC thing is classic. A basic misunderstanding over the difference between up-to, and including dates. They essentially missed 2 days a month, for over 3 years, on a 30m a year business.

 

[Scouse]

OK. Your call Raven. I just thought if illegal shit was going on, then you could do something worthwhile. The only way to ruin his retirement is to take a lot of money off him.

But this:

Why not? I know the MD is 3 years from retirement and fired me/made me resign to cover his own arse, so I might as well ruin his retirement. *He is the sort of dickhead that got the company to spend 10k putting in EV charging points so he (and only he, because nobody else at HQ had a company vehicle) could save tax by getting an EV.

Meh, if he owns the company - then that's fair game. I mean - that sort of shit is what companies are for: to make their owners rich/lives better.

I still vote for - constructive dismissal - it can be worth many tens of thousands to you, and for me, that's not to be sniffed at. Unless you're going to financially ruin him (and not risk getting yourself stuck with a harrasment suit) then get what you can and move on.


Edit: If he's running a 30m/year business there's fuck all you're going to do with his retirement that will make him blink. He's already financially secure and/or has more money than he knows what to do with. You could tonk the company and the fucker would shrug.

 

[BloodOmen]

Take them to the cleaners + report them to the proper authorities for dodgy figures. They made your life hell, show them no fucking mercy.

 

[SilverHood]

I don't think it's worth it. If you have a local paper, send them the details, then wash your hands of it. You don't want to be dragged into legal drama, and the longer you're looking at the past, the longer you're not looking to the future.

 

[Raven]

I had such a good 2 days at my new job, that I didn't hit send.

I will be submitting things to HMRC/auditors when my mate leaves, though, including the miss allocation of commission, people that could have used the money missed out, in favour of people on 100k+

 

[Scouse]

Proud

Get a lawyer to punt in constructive dismissal for you too. Just for shits and giggles.

Tell him you don't want owt else to do with it and see if he comes back with a gift for you next christmas.

 

[Lamp]

If all else fails, get hold of a burner cell phone. Have a pal scream Arabic at them down the phone. Then a pause. Followed by a single gun shot. Then more Arabic. then hang up.

 

[Raven]

Proud

Get a lawyer to punt in constructive dismissal for you too. Just for shits and giggles.

Tell him you don't want owt else to do with it and see if he comes back with a gift for you next christmas.

It's weird, some sort of stockholm syndrome, I guess, should have fucked it off a decade ago. My new job is essentially doing what I was doing before, but about a 5th of the transactional workload, for a bit more money, with a better job title, in a bigger company.

It's 15 miles each way, as opposed to 2 miles, which fucking sucks, but country roads, so fun, even has a forest stage.

Edit, my mate, who still works there, pretty much got my foot in the door, with a contact of his, so I owe him a lot. I simply cannot throw him under the bus, which I know some of the fallout would involve, particularly the VAT stuff.

Edit, Edit, I am not going to go into it, but I honestly don't need the money from a payout, I would only spend it on something stupid, not a brag, but I don't spend a huge amount on "fluff" and have pretty simple needs.

 

[Raven]

The thing that annoys me the most is that I am no longer getting a Mini John Works, but I am getting a sports clutch, better intercooler and better turbo put into my car, and going stage 2.5 remap. The fucking thing flew through its MOT and I fixed all the annoying things myself (mostly dodgy sensors)

 

[MYstIC G]

I'd put in the constructive dismissal, if they've got that value of business then they'll settle.