Worried About Experience Certificate After IT Security Mistake? What Could Happen Next?

At the date of relieving, unfortunately, I sent some process documents to my personal email address. Four days later, I received a call from the HR team informing me that I had committed an IT security violation. After the call, I realized my mistake and promptly deleted all the documents. I then had a discussion with my Vice President and HR regarding the incident. At the end of the meeting, they requested a letter from me expressing my apology.

Concerns about Experience Certificate and Potential Punishments

I am concerned about whether I will receive an experience certificate after this incident. In case any actions are taken regarding this issue, what is the highest punishment they could impose? This situation is impacting my new job.

Thank you.

Hi, Action for violation of IT policy will differ from employer to employer. Not sure what you mean by "process document." If the document forwarded to a personal email address is confidential, such as company business secrets or client details, the employer may take the issue very seriously. We can't predict whether your employer will issue an experience certificate or not. If what you did was unintentional, then submit an unconditional apology letter. It will be up to the employer to decide the further course of action.

A company has the right to take official or legal action against staff who breach the security violation policy. However, it depends on the validity and importance of the data or file that you have forwarded or downloaded to your personal email or system. If HR is convinced by your apology letter, they may assist you upon exit.

In general, no one should forward or download another person's data without permission, as it goes against personal and work ethics.

How do you "unfortunately" send confidential company information to your own email address?

People not engaged in nefarious activities don't make such mistakes. In all my 50 years of working life, I never photocopied or sent work documents to my personal email. It was particularly important for me as, during my career, I had several jobs involving highly confidential and top-secret work. In one job, not even my colleagues sitting around me in the office had a clue as to what I was doing, as it involved the sale of the business, and I was the only employee outside of the two owners of the business who knew about it. My absolute trustworthiness was a skill that was highly valued. Once you lose the trust people have in you, it is a long, arduous journey back and one that is not always successful.

Now you are trying to get us to help you whitewash this despite it looking to me like a serious breach of security. Good luck with that.