Didn't you read the whole thing, the bloke's a temp from an agency - so his actions are the height of stupidity.

Didn't he ever hear of "client confidentiality"?

He's hoping for work in the future from the agency, if they've any sense they'll never use him again.

I'm just wondering what Microsoft's side of the story is. All we know is he blogged and he got fired, and we only know that from what the blogger himself said. Maybe his work wasn't up to speed. Could be a thousand factors, but if we only hear from one side we won't know the whole story.

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Apple Should offer him a well paying Job!

Apple Should offer him a well paying Job!

Why, so the rumor sites will have another source for insider and confidential information? You may think its far-fetched, but he better hope no future prospective employers find out about this. Leaking company business to the outside world ain't exactly something you want on your resume.

Even Apple has PCs

Microsoft sucks

I agree to a point but two Palettes full of G5's
I don't think Apple would get 2 loads of dells.

But, I do agree, it is probably normal, just like the car companies.

The posts about this being no different if it had occured at virtually any company are spot on. If this same scene had taken place at One Infinite Loop, the results would have been identical.

This guy obviously doesn't have a clue, based on his blog. Further, those who are using this to bash Microsoft (an often worthy target) don't have a clue either. This guy will be asking, "would you like fries with that," in his next job, as Burger King is likely the only remaining source of employment for a moron of this magnitude.

You agree to a point? What point is that, the one on top of your empty head? What difference does it make "how many G5's" MS was receiving, or how many Dell's Apple might receive?

Parse this any way you like, the guy is an idiot, and deserves to be unemployed. One need only read his pathetic blog to understand that he was obviously given a break when he got the job on the loading dock.

Anybody who would defend this guy must suffer from the same stupidity. If he had taken pictures of Dell machines showing up in Redmond the results would have been similar, it's a simple matter of business. People like this idiot and those who support him are a threat to the gene pool.

You made me laugh.
You are very funny.

My comment on the story:

None really, I just hate Microsoft and this was just another terrific thing they have done to reinforce corporate loyalty by way of slamming someone. What every happened to a punishment that fit the crime?

1. Verbal Warning (Remove)
2. Written Warning
3. Dismissal

Microsoft just got hit with 200 million dollars in fines for overcharging their customers.... I say they got off cheap.

this guy was fired with just cause and it makes sense. Most companies of this magnitude have some sort of an NDA or similar policy. You don't publish to the world what's happening behind closed doors of a corporation, much like you don't often discuss what happens in the bedroom with the audience of a stadium while your wife watches.

both lead to being fired

"I agree to a point but two Palettes full of G5's
I don't think Apple would get 2 loads of dells."

Huh? Microsoft's Office Suite for OS X took quite a few people to program it... do you expect them all to share one or two machines to get that project done?

Of COURSE Microsoft is going to purchase a lot of G5s. That's what they need to provide their programmers with the tools to develop software (whether you think its good software or not, it took a lot of time to put it together) for the Mac OS.

The people on this forum are just as ignorant as the moron who took the picture of the G5s being delivered to Microsoft.

Again, it's work noting

Again, it's work noting that he was a TEMP. The guy didn't go to college (look at his resume), and is basically trained only for working at Kinkos (where he was worked).

He got fired because he's not that bright, and now he's going to end up getting plenty of PayPal money and a new job from someone I'm sure.

It's ridiculous. I went to college, I'm intelligent and well-trained, but I'm not an idiot that gets fired all the time--so I'll have to keep working for my money.

None of this has ANYTHING to do with him working at Microsoft, or ANYTHING to do with Apple. Replace those two company names with anything else and it would still have happened.

I must say, I find the level of "he deserves everything he got" attitude rather distressing.

Mafiosa may whack people who talk about their private lives. Mafiosa go to jail.

Employers, on the other hand, have a variety of responses to actions. Posting some photos of G5s being delivered is likely worth a reprimand. Possible even a written one. Termination, though?

By hauling out the big guns of termination, MS has made the tacit statement that taking a rather indiscreet photo is up there with petty theft, poor job performance over an extended period, and refusing valid orders. This does not make leaks less likely; it makes people _more_ likely to do more heinous things, as it devalues the firing response to something that seems arbitrary.

I am a consultant, and I do keep mum about what my clients are doing. I do not do it out of quivering fear of the Client Gestapo; I do it because I would like them to do the same thing for me, professionally. Yeah, the temp probably should not have, but the MS response seems heavy handed, and not designed to produce a workplace one wants to work in.

Scott

Thing is Scott, what does a wally like this do next?

If he was an employee, then yes, give him a warning, perhaps.

But he's a temp, you don't need to be taking chances on people like that - you lose confidence in them over something like this, best to be rid of them.

And, what a professional - not only gets sent packing for being unprofessional in the first place, but then compounds this failure by announcing to the world what happened!

Thing is Scott, what does a wally like this do next?

If he was an employee, then yes, give him a warning, perhaps.

But he's a temp, you don't need to be taking chances on people like that - you lose confidence in them over something like this, best to be rid of them.

And, what a professional - not only gets sent packing for being unprofessional in the first place, but then compounds this failure by announcing to the world what happened!

Thanks, Red Forman.

Distressing? Heavy handed? You may be a consultant, but beyond that you are a soft-headed, blithering idiot. Companies like Microsoft and Apple don't have time to give their employees "time outs" for misbehavior, these types of ND issues are covered very clearly in every contract I've ever signed.
Apple has fired several employees over the years for similar behavior, particularly posting of photos, which is deemed the Cardinal sin in the tech industry.

I sense the collective intelligence of the posters here can be quickly ascertained, those who support this action, or at least understand the reasons for it, and those who are likely as ignorant, or more so, than the idiot who they wish to defend.

Get a clue, then get back to work!

And by the way, last I checked Microsoft had many long term employees who enjoy their work, and no shortage of others wanting their positions. Workplace environment has nothing to do with this, any company would have done the same. Face it, the guy is an idiot.

Stupid temp employee. Can't find permanent work because of antics like this. This guy could have had a long and lustrous career at a big company but he got cocky and blew it. MS didn't post the sensitive information, the temp did. Unfortunately, he did it to himself and we can't blame MS for getting rid of the jerk. "Blow him out" as my boss would say. Guys like this end up wiping things off at Walmart for a living. A word of advice to the temp guy: grow up and pull your head out.

Nothing to do with Microsoft so just calm yourself down, zealots. I can see ANY company (MS, Apple, Adobe, Oracle, etc) firing people for what they say or their blogs for things that are barely related to the company or not even related to the company.

So calm the f*ck down, zealots.

Of course microsoft needs macs in house... how else are they going to rip off Panther and make Longhorn look and act as much like it as possible?

Same day? Speech excerpt by Bill Gates on longhorn:

But what's interesting about this is a couple of things. First, it actually built in these common parts that show information, notification, services, that a user might really be interested in seeing when they're working on their main application, without popping up a window that covers it. For example, the time or their buddy list or a slide show, which, of course, you can add and remove these tiles here -- or even an RSS-feed built right into the sidebar. (Applause.) And you want to hear blogging or about to blog when they get -- who is going to be the first person after the keynote to go and post on their blog. Scobel, OK. Well, we'll see. It's going to be a race. But the best part about this is not that we have this functionality built into Windows. The best part, like everything I'm going to show you today, is that this is part of the platform. This is part of the SDK that you guys are going to get, you guys can write to it, and we think you can do great, great things with this.

While I agree with Microsoft's actions, those of you calling this guy a mother f-ing {every word in the swear dictionary} idiot need to settle down. Yeesh. I mean, he's just a kid. He probably didn't even read the NDA he signed. Does that make him "ignorant" or a "moron"? Not really; he's just young and inexperienced. While the blame is entirely with him and I support Microsoft's decision, acting as though this kid's life ends with today is ludicrous.

How exactly does this "devalue the firing response?"

I am more likely to do something against company policy because I'm more likely to be terminated?????

How is being fired for breaching company policy "arbitrary?"

Companies like Microsoft make their conditions and policies of employment very clear during the hiring process, and contract workers know this if they read their contracts. A violation of this magnitude could have no other result. You can't unring a bell.

By making such idiotic remarks, and proclaiming yourself a consultant, I would assert by your standards that you have 'devalued consultants everywhere."

Of course the kid is an idiot for not acting smartly. That is the definition of an idiot.

You people saying he should be fired are IDIOTS! He didn't reveal any company secret, he didn't compromise any security. ITS NOT A BIG DEAL. Getting fire for this is just stupid, and so are you people who agree with the firing.

I love the way geeks their anger flow in this forum. It keeps you meek and mild in person, doesn't it, you repressed little men?

Read your contract "idiot"...if you have one....you are so far off base it's humorous...especially the way you capitalize certain words....

He did reveal proprietary information, namely the way Microsoft conducts their business inside their own company. The magnitude of this "idiots" indiscretion is soley the judgement of his employer, not yours, or mine, or anyone elses. Contract workers are routinely terminated for "violations of their contracts." Even an "idiot" can understand that...and ignorance of your contract is no excuse... In the final analysis, the "idiot" got what he deserved, and "idiots" like you defend him because.....well....you are "idiots" as well. "Birds of a feather...

Should get a job at Apple.

God forbit the guy excersize his right to free speech.

Blogs are personal opinions. They have absolutely nothing to do with one's chosen company. The fact this guy got fired for making a PERSONAL blog entry is another confirmation for me that microsoft is completely lame and will do anything to curb the truth: that they really do worship the mac.

No one is limiting anyone's freedom of speech. He can say what he wants anywhere he wants. A company (Microsoft in this example) can also do whatever it wants. Stop being such a fascist. You apparently do not work for a company.

WTF? Curb the truth? Give me a break.

This poor moron at MS was able to totally exercise his right of free speech and personal opinion, and further documented such with a picture and his true identity.

As Newbie pointed out correctly, MS exercised their right to terminate him under the terms of his agreement, which as a contract worker, he signed...freely, as a condition of employment.

As for "curbing the truth,' that statement indicates your intelligence level is that of a burlap bag of ball peen hammers.

The "truth" is, Microsoft develops and manufactures Macintosh compatible products, would you in your infinite logic assume that they test these products on '67 Plymouths?

Exactly what "truth" are they curbing? No company I know of or have ever worked for allows their employees to indiscriminately partake of these types of behavior without consequence. If the nimrod at MS had a functional organ in his cranial cavity, which is obviously further encased in his rectal cavity, he would have made the posting either anonymously, or not at all. Companies have a right to control the information and images of matters that occur inside their own operations. This guy excersised his right to free speech....and now he's free.....hahahhahahhahahahhahahahahha

>The "truth" is, Microsoft develops and manufactures Macintosh compatible products, would you in your infinite logic assume that they test these products on '67 Plymouths?

That must be why MSN Messenger is incompatible with my '67 Plymouth.

You post any info about a company that you work for and you are asking for trouble. You WACKJOBS that say otherwise can go sit on a mountain and ponder all you want, but if you value your JOBS, you WON'T do ANYTHING that MIGHT jeapordize your employment.

look, i work for staples, and if i take a picture of the receiving area while unpacking a pallet of HP printers, would that grant them the right to fire me? all i can see is a truck with macs inside.. what the h*** in there should be seen as a security problem or anything??

I have my personal online diary locked so you have to be whitelisted AND logged into your account on the server to see the entries. It used to be public until c*** like this started happening more and more. However, since a sweep-through retroactively back to the first entry, all the entries are locked.

It's a real shame. Idiots with egos and money are ruining things for those who really mean no harm.

The contents of the shipment were not secret, or some kind of notice would have been posted. Unless your employment contract specifically says you can't publicize stuff like this, I'd say the guy is right to be upset.

You nitwits really are stupid, just like the guy at Microsoft.

The secrecy of the contents of the shipment, or lack there of is a moot point. Some kind of notice WAS posted...it's called his former contract, as he was a contract worker.

If you wish to start your own company and allow your employees to freely decipher your activities and determine what is acceptable to reveal to the general public, go for it, but don't condemn others for finding this behavior unacceptable. The stooge idenfied his company and his own identity, both of which are violations of MS's typical employee contract. This is nothing new, it's just rarely that some bonehead does something like this to cause a firing.

I doubt most of the whiners advocating this guy should not have been fired have ever had a job working for anyone else but their grandmother, mowing lawns.

Microsoft most likely needed the G5's to develop the lastest versions of VPC and Office X. All high tech companies have rules against taking photo's of the work location. Can you imagine what Apple would do if a temp employee took pic's of PC's running XP purchased to develop iTunes for Windows and posted on the internet. The same thing. End of story. Let's grow-up here.

this country is full of brainwashed corporate whores. whatever happened to paul revere?

I heard that the G5's are for develpment of titles for the IBM chip powered XBOX 2...

First, writing blogs is very commonthese days, if you do't understand it, you don't belongs to this generation.

Second, do anyone bother to ask why Microsoft would "know" this guy's blog talking about the G5 delivery to MS's campus?

Third, some says here give so many credibilities to MS for their developing Mac software so they want the G5s, but noboy seems curious about the fact that Microsoft already stop development of Explorer for Mac, MS Office for Mac alreadyout there for a pretty long time and no updates in major way or even they dissatisfy with the sales and threaten to pull the plug. MS products for Mac is as still as water, so why's the new machines???

Now I'm not saying they'll not do any development of Mac products, but with their previous record, and also their intention to make their own brand PC, it make more sense to me that it's for use of competitve reasons.

Also, for people who think it's "normal" to have mac in MS's graphic department, I'll say: it's not normal, every graphic and publishing software out there for Mac have Windows versions, why they need Mac to do those stuffs? Hmmm... isn't it true that people use software not the OS? So why this matters? May be the OS matters a lot after all ?!

MS is a bully.

How many people would have seen the pic or read the blog if Microsoft hadn't fired this guy? All MS has succeeded in doing is drawing more attention to the thing they wanted to keep private.

Bill Gates may be within his rights to terminate the guy, but being legal isn't always the same as being smart.

Nice to see that employers like Microsoft are willing to give their employees "the benefit of the doubt" -- you know, live and learn? What kind of dumba$$ company fires an employee over a first-time violation of rules about blogging that are not posted, disseminated, or codified? Unfortunately, it's a clear reflection of the contempt that companies such as MS have for people trying to make a living in today's economy. You're disposable, so forget on-the-job training -- just scram, since there's another drone behind you waiting for the job.

Let's see if we can make this clear to the thick headed among us.

1.Nobody prevented the MS moron from posting his blog.
2.Microsoft in no way prevented this posting, nor attempted to
remove it once posted.
3.The actions of the moron employee, in posting to his blog,
company activities with photo and personal identification was
indeed a violation of his contract.
4.Microsoft exercised their rights, under the contract that said
moron signed as condition of employment. He committed a
violation of his contract...hence, grounds for termination.
5.Whether he had taken pictures of the G5 shipment, or people eating lunch in the cafeteria, to do so was a violation of his contract, period.
6. Whatever MS's intentions are for the new G5's is irrelevent. They didn't fire the guy because he took pictures of G5's in shipment, they fired him because he took pictures on the job, posted them, and identified himself and his company. No "real" company would tolerate that under any circumstances.
7.MS discovered the blog because he put their name in it, along with his, and the pics....there is no "evil" motivation here...just good business on MS's part, and riddance of a troublemaker from the loading dock. End of story.

One other point, development is an ongoing process, so MS is obviously continuing to work on Mac products, the demise of Explorer being a simple point of logic, Apple has their own browser... If they are using the machines to build games for X box....well, X box users, you are welcome.

Anybody who thinks this action wasn't worthy of termination is either 12 years old, have never worked for a "real" company, or is simply a blithering idiot. I suspect the latter. (or, based on the syntax of many of the "bleeding heart" posts, perhaps they are from somewhere else)

Here's the deal, because you obviously aren't clear on the matter.

Do your job, follow the rules, no problem.
Do your job, break the rules, your gone.

If the economy is so tough, don't s**** around with your job. I and many like myself have been employed in very well paying jobs, for many years, because we work hard, and we don't make unnecessary trouble for our employers.

I have never known anyone who does their job and follows the rules who has ever had an issue like this. These things happen to people who don't read their contract, don't follow the rules, and create their own misery.

The sad part of this is that the employee brought this all upon himself. If he had simply done his job and followed the rules, none of this would be happening.

There are more workers out there than jobs. In that type of environment, only the strong survive. Microsoft owns the jobs, not the employees. If there is a loose s**** in the machinery, it is easily replaced in todays economy. Simple solution: Don't be a loose s****.

He got scaked because he listed too much info -- what dept he worked in, what building it was in etc. Plus, they guy's just a temp. Totally differnt rules then those for a "real " employee.

When they develop IE 6.0 for OSX and I can stop having to use VPC to log into my VPN at school.

Only reason I have WIndoz on my Mac...
I feel so dirty.

>>One other point, development is an ongoing process, so MS is obviously continuing to work on Mac products, the demise of Explorer being a simple point of logic, Apple has their own browser... If they are using the machines to build games for X box....well, X box users, you are welcome.

Unbelievable!

There's nothing obvious here. Unless you heard MS IS developing Mac products. And remember MS is a company well known for taking others technlogies to make their own, you give way too many credit to them.

Remind you: MS Office for Mac was a deal they made with Apple and the time was up without any "promise" made, right after they made a show of how they trust each other, they removed the Mac Business Unit head Kevin Browne to other areas, then they pull Corel together and make a news that MS Office for Mac and Corel products for Mac not selling well right at the point of MacWorld, Apple fight back by saying Office price too high.

...MS claimed they will reconsider the further development of Office for Mac.

Now go back a little further, remember the game Halo? The buzz of the outstanding game for Mac died down while MS bought the game company. That was one of the most important game for Mac at that ime,and the not releasing game give Apple another hard time in the market. While MS put the original company's CEO out to MacWorld to silent the Mac crowd's worry and dissatisfaction, claiming Halo will release on time and the MS bought out will not affect the development. This is the end of 2003, Halo already on Xbox for years, and the Mac version is no where in sight.

With a record like this, how could anybody put MS in a good light no every move they make?

Halo is a game, not an app. Who cares? If someone just have to have Halo they can use a PC or an XBox and play it now. Big deal. I don't understand people who think a computer should be used primarily for games. Get a job and games will be the last thing on your minds. Silly teenagers think they understand business and economics!

Why do you think most pcs get sold?

Idiot children playing games, chatting on AOL, pretending to be hackers, creating viri.. rather copying and editing viri and saying, "I'm elite"...

PCs and their users pretty much suck.

Someone look-up the law of diminishing returns and splain it to the kiddies.

i post this on january 14, 2004. halo for the mac came out on december 3. therefore, by the "end of 2003" it was already out. it was NOT "nowhere in sight".