Say, “hypothetically”, I'd worked for a company for 10 years and my job was essentially to run, maintain and service a machine that I've basically built myself and am the only person who knows how to run, maintain and service it.
To give you an idea of the level here, I wrote it's operating system and software that runs the machinery myself. It's entirely custom work for handling and printing data.
and if I am off sick in this company, this machine doesn't run because they haven't invested in a backup memeber of staff to take over.
Without me it's a paperweight and threatens a $7 million contract. I handed in my minimum notice a week ago and as of today, I'm gone.
There's a software level encrypted security lock on that machine that triggers each day. As of 10:30 tomorrow it's a paperweight nobody has the passwords for.
They would have the passwords but the reason I quit is my production line manager destroyed ALL of the documentation I had for that machine. Service manuals, running guides, troubleshooting guides and my little red book of passwords and security procedures. He's lied to me and upper management and just said it went into archives. Which is weird because the archive looks a lot like the recycling. The only reason I didn't rescue the documents is because he lied directly to upper management in front of me.
I know what is going to happen tomorrow morning. While I'm safe and comfy in my home with my phone turned off until I get my number changed a small atom bomb is going to be going off at my old workplace.
Now I'm out of the company. I'm done. Do I have to worry about any recourse, though?