My boss took my instruction files that took me 6 years to put together out of my desk do I ask him where they?

Question

I have been working at a company for 6 years and have detailed instruction files on how to do everything I have ever done in my desk one day my boss hires a new girl to be his assistant and someone took all my personal instruction files out of my desk what do I do?

Answer 1

Report it to the boss and police as a theft.

Answer 2

Those are not your files, they are the company's files. You compiled this as instructions to do your job, which means, technicallly, it can be considered a training manual for the company should anyone need to fill that type of position. Also, the desk you sit at at your workplace, is not your desk, it is your company's desk. They have every right to go into it and take those files. I have HR law experience, and whatever is in that desk, they have a right to go into, except for your purse/briefcase, which then becomes an invasion of privacy issues. But those instructions you compiled are 100% ownership of the company you work for. You should probably have it saved on your computer as well, so it should be pretty ieasy for you to print the file.

Answer 3

Well if you put these files together on company time and using company resources while you were being paid, these files technically belong to the company.

The most you can do is try to get the files back so that you can make a copy of it and give them that copy while you keep the original. Maybe explain to your boss or the new girl that it is still a work in progress and you'd like to continue working on it and give them an updated version sometime down the line.

Answer 4

You should ask about them..is this new person in any way related to your job..ie..could they be replacing you? Were you asked to keep a file of instructions on how to do your job? I have heard of situations where top officials asked employees to write down a detailed description of thier job...only to fire them later and hire new people and train them with the instructions written by the former employees...you have a union?

Answer 5

While working and getting paid by the company...Those file are your company property...because they are based on company property and detail instruccion about your job...They have the right to retain that information...Now...if the file were stolen and taken out of the property, you should tell your boss and reported to police. Is called industrial espionage.

Answer 6

This file looks like a good source of information about how to do things at your work. Don't you want to share it with Juniors? Of course it is yours & you should let them know that it is your personal file. You can say them that they can keep it for few days & ask it back whenever you need it to find out something. I mean share it with new girl.

Answer 7

Those are your files... you compiled them. You have the right to ask for them back. Tell him that you want the files back immediately and that you will gladly copy whatever anyone else needs, but the originals are yours.

On the flipside, he could argue that they are company property...

Good luck!

Answer 8

Did you use your own personal files and paper that you bought at Office Depot and were you on the clock when you wrote them? That would sort of make them company property.

Answer 9

Those files you compiled while working for your boss actually belong to him or the company you work for.

Answer 10

Talk to a lawyer, but I'm afraid you're not going to like what he/she has to tell you.

I would think that those files would be classified as work product, not personal property. And as such, they are the property of the organization.

Sorry, but I think you're hooped.

Answer 11

Tell your boss that you'd like the files back but make it clear you don't NEED them, you only want them - effort involved, etc. Otherwise he may worry about how competent you are.