An employee has been mining cryptocurrency for 5+ years. They installed mining software on most of our company PC's (approximately 40), and purchased items stating they were required by the company but in fact were for the mining rig. They used a work email to set up a cryptocurrency account.
How...
@Donald They need to legal and possibly the police before taking any action like that - because by removing the software and wiping devices what you're really doing is destroying a whole load of evidence.
"Any advice on how to deal with this situation would be welcome" - what role do you play in this company? If you are the owner of the company, or this individual's boss, you should be talking with your company lawyer and HR.
You've stated that this person has installed mining software on all company computers and you've stated that they built a mining rig. Is it one or the other, or both? As far as the mining goes, is that illegal in your country? Does your company expressly forbid it? As an example, Bitcoin mining is perfectly legal in most countries.
@joeqwerty Mining with computers you own and pay the electric bills for is generally legal. Installing miners on someone else's computers and using their electricity is another matter.
@DanIsFiddlingByFirelight, I'd like to see the legal statutes that prohibit what the OP has stated. Assuming that it's illegal or inferring that it's illegal doesn't make it illegal.
@joeqwerty For a recent example in the US. Not quite the same scenario as what OP is describing, but the fraudulent electricity use charge would still fit. abcnews.go.com/US/…
One thing you haven’t mentioned is whether you just found this all out now, or whether you/staff/management knew they’d installed this on 40 PC’s before now - if so, you may have given implicit consent. In other words, have you known for years and just let it slide until now, when you found out that hardware had been purchased; or that they were earning too much money?
This is a dream workplace. To ask my company to buy me something, without having to argue and explain endlessly why I need it at first place. And then the usual "can you do it without it?" question. And to be able to use it for something else after that. And everyone to get off my head and do not bother me for 5+ years. I would be so happy.
@TymoteuszPaul Everyone here is assuming and inferring that this is a misuse of company funds and/or is illegal, based solely on what the OP stated, which is a one-sided story. We don't know that the employee in question wasn't directed to do this by someone else in the company, unbeknownst to the OP. Furthermore, Bitcoin mining is perfectly legal in most countries. I'm simply saying that before I jump the gun and make accusations and call for some action, that I'd like more information. Was this activity directed by someone else? Has this employee broken company policy?
Have they actually misused company assets or engaged in fraudulent and illegal activity? I don't convict someone without having all of the information and evidence.
@H.A.H. I guess you're used to employers from the overly bureaucratic end of the spectrum. However, I can assure you that many companies do realize that it makes little sense to spend half an hour (two employees, assuming they're half-decently paid, some €50 in costs for the discussion alone) discussing a purchase of a €100 piece of hardware.
@joeqwerty Oh I don't think any of this happened, this is just some bored hours windup. But yes, using some assets is missues. Are there mitigatinig factors? Who cares, we are not judge and jury here, we deal with question as presented.
"An employee" and you are? A coworker? manager? CEO? Owner/operator? Locality (country/city/state/zip)? Standard "get a lawyer" and if necessary involve the police comes after verifying that it's YOUR job to do that. if you're just a coworker? Then your job is making sure the company knows then stay out of the way and let them handle it. This isn't even including stuff like boss' son doing this or other complicating factors... TL;DR: more details needed
lol If you'd had a clause somewhere that any crypto mined on company hardware belongs to the company then you might have found yourself in a decent position.
Can I say a huge thank you to everyone its help me to come to terms with has actually happened and make a plan to deal with it head on.Thanks Again most helpful
Discussion on question by Crushed: Cr…
Discussion on question by Crushed: Cr…