Keeping copies of your reports

[tcsafety]

My former boss is upset that I kept copies of my Arborist reports I've done through the years. I told them for years that I keep a copy, but now that I'm going to a competitor he wants to make a big deal about it. They're digitized and on several flash drives...kinda hard to give them back even if I agreed.

Overlooking his emotive reaction to my leaving, I was wondering how many of you keep copies of your reports? Do any of you owners out there have any policies regarding this? If you don't let your employee keep a copy, why?

Thanks

 

[treesandsurf]

I keep copies of all my reports.

jp

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

Eric, I don't know if I fully understand the whole situation or not, so I may be way off.

Are you keeping the originals and leaving no copy for his records? If so, I think giving him copies would be a good idea. Read below...

I'm guessing you were not a contractor for him and that you were on a payroll. I would think that means he was accepting liability with any advice you were giving his customers. So, if a tree failed, couldn't he be liable? If so, then it would be of his best intrest to have the records.

You could upload to "Drop Box" free and easy, and he could have a copy. We use dropbox on a daily bases.

http://www.dropbox.com/

And I keep all records up to 5 years.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Hard copies definitely belong to the company that you were working for when you wrote them. E-copies might too, but that is a question that an attorney would have to answer.

Anytime that I send an email from work I BCC myself at home too. Having a copy off-site is good policy.

When I've developed any project at work I email all of the data home too.

The important thing to remember is that anything that is developed or worked on for an employer belongs to the employer not the employee. Intellectual property rights need to be respected.

 

[tcsafety]

Jamin: Yes they have all the hard copies/masters, whether in paper or digital form.

Tom: I do have this question into a local attourney who is also an arborist. When I went back to work for them earlier this year I did not sign anything regarding any information/report I generated, so it may be a mute issue anyway. I'll let ya know when I get an answer. I agree that the report belongs to the employer. However, it is also my name, credibility, etc. on the line.

The a few reasons I wish to keep a copy of them. 1) There is good arboricultural info I may wish to use as a resource on a future project. 2) In case an issue arrises (especially with me not with the company any more) where my evaluations/recommendations are an issue, I would need them for reference. 3) It's a personal record of what I have done in my arboriculture career.

The reports (and copies) cannot generate any income for anyone as they were one time events. There was no client information on them like phone numbers, etc. Maybe the more mischevious amongst you can think of something, but I'm not sure how they could be harmed or damaged by the copies in my possession. They are not for public consumption, only a personal resource. And they have the masters in case I would try to change them for some reason (???).

 

[guymayor]

[ QUOTE ]
...The a few reasons I wish to keep a copy of them. 1) There is good arboricultural info I may wish to use as a resource on a future project. 2) In case an issue arrises (especially with me not with the company any more) where my evaluations/recommendations are an issue, I would need them for reference. 3) It's a personal record of what I have done in my arboriculture career.

The reports (and copies) cannot generate any income for anyone as they were one time events. There was no client information on them like phone numbers, etc. Maybe the more mischevious amongst you can think of something, but I'm not sure how they could be harmed or damaged by the copies in my possession. They are not for public consumption, only a personal resource. And they have the masters in case I would try to change them for some reason (???).

[/ QUOTE ]

This seems reasonable. I've worked for universities, as an employee and contractor, and kept everything (that i have not lost). you list good reasons for keeping copies, without interfering with ownership.

As a private consultant i have to keep everything for 3 years for legal reasons "just in case", then start chucking the bulky, unimportant stuff. But for reference and record, carefully organized info is wealth that you have created, and may pay high dividends someday.