I wouldn't be surprised if this actually didn't happen. Let's see if there are elements in the story that stand out if we take this perspective. (It is much harder than detecting photoshop effects).<p>+ He could have been on holidays, or getting a child, but it is the death of his mother. Of course, we are gonna feel really bad for him. That's really good for the story.<p>+ The security of the system is such that on one hand a dongle is needed, but on the other hand someone can fake sending email through your account. This is apparently widely known by non-expert colleagues to just joke around, but not known by the security staff.<p>+ Technological "details" that do not seem to make sense such as SQL to make it sound like a true story to the uneducated.<p>+ The writer already assumes that we think he is lying. Hence, he comes up with the dongle story. We would already have been fine with his word that he just didn't send the resignation letter.<p>+ He physically shows up 6 weeks later without checking his email once (reply email). Of course the effect of the story is much stronger in that case. However, is it very likely not to check your email at least just before you show up at work 6 weeks later? [Edit: incorrect assumption, see @c8g.]<p>Then what would be motive of the person asking the question. It is a throwaway account.<p>+ A researcher who wants to see what the difference is between a fake story on Facebook versus one asked on StackOverflow? How could such an effect be properly compared?
I wouldn't be surprised if that "someone" was the CEO or someone working on the CEO's behalf. What else could even make sense?<p>Even if some coworker had a grudge or a bone to pick with OP, they had to know that OP would return eventually and any CEO worth his salt would demand answers immediately. Specially considering the legal risks exposed here for firing someone on FMLA qualifying leave (assuming US).<p>Weigh that against a CEO who accepted a resignation and re-hired for the position based on a single email alone without so much as a follow up call. When OP returns seems lackadaisical about investigating. Seems fishy to me.
Hardly related, but does anyone know why resignation letters are so popular in the first place? When I quit the only job I ever had, I went to my boss and told him I wanted to quit. We had a constructive conversation.<p>Now, this company has a very strong "talk about it" culture, with super supportive management, etc. No bureaucracy or paperwork anywhere. Nevertheless, my boss was totally surprised that I wanted to <i>talk</i> about resigning. Pleasantly surprised I might add, but still: In his entire career, every employee who had left had written a letter and left it at that.<p>Why do it that way? Of course I understand if there's fundamental disagreements or deep unhappiness, it's a good way to keep emotions out of the way. But that wasn't the case here, and everybody I know who left that company left it on good terms.<p>I ask because I'm an employer now. I try to be a good and open-minded boss, and I'd much rather have someone tell me what's going on than receive a letter out of the blue. Is this wishful thinking?
I would tell him go to the CEO and say:<p>"The letter was a forgery, someone in your company is unethical, and you should find out who.<p>As far as I am concerned I am thinking of suing, but if you simply paid out my leave I would be satisfied, and finding the unethical employee will be on you."<p>And that's it. If the CEO is as honest as the question makes him out to be, this should be enough, and it's much simpler. If not, then you lost nothing, and can sue, get a lawyer, etc, as all the answers suggest.
Using a throwaway...<p>When I was working at a previous company, my manager jumped on my PC and used it to send an email from my account to my colleague, while I was out on my lunch break. It was a joke, which I thought was highly unprofessional. I asked my colleague, and he said that he seen the manager use my computer. I confronted the manager and she owned up to it. I've asked her to explain, and her excuse was that I should have locked my PC and I didn't take it anywhere further. However, I could see how a more serious incident could happen, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was the CEO where hubris can run rampant at those levels. Usually companies would have audit logs of who and when the account was accessed, I would start looking there.
As said on stackexchange, you should get a lawyer and contact the authorities as a felony has been committed. Even if the company isn't involved in the events, they should not treat you as they did and owe you a proper severance pay.
How do people afford a knowledgeable lawyer and forensics expert as mentioned in some of the replies? Don't they get expensive fast? What if you lose the case... how much money will you be out?
> You need to talk to a lawyer, ASAP.<p>The only acceptable answer.<p>If someone forged your email it becomes wire fraud thus criminal act under federal law. You should consult a lawyer now.
I would write a formal letter to the board of directors (and perhaps key external shareholders) as well. It doesn't have to be much - even a forward of the post, letting them know that it refers to you and their company.<p>If they are complicit - it makes a paper trail for others to discover. If they are not complicit then the CEO will get instructed to do the right thing.
If you could see the email, look at the email headers. It should indicate what IP address and email program sent the email, as in, it may say SQLMail and it IP of the machine.
How do you accept your exit package without signing anything in person, I have never had a job where a single resignation email was enough for HR to close you out as an employee, this smells super made up.
"ain't passed the bar/ but I know a little bit"<p>He probably does not work in a 'right to work' state as the employer would not need to justify their action with a resignation letter.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law</a><p>The scenario is odd - I understand dropping things to take care of a relative. But a 6-week interval is too great in this day. There should have been some further communication of intent.
"We used to do it as jokes but it was never used for something like this and I can’t imagine anyone that would hate me enough to go this far."<p>It's all fun and games, until ...
Local IT guy in the company is only person to help most likely, it would be first person to reach for such sneaky task. Either he would know or would have logs.<p>Though, seems hard to solve, especially if he is out of US/Europe.
Why is this on HN? The top-voted comment here calls it fake, not a single comment adds anything substantial that wasn't written on SE. As far as I can tell it's just tabloidish voyeurism...
You don't need a dongle, backend sql db or infact anything to send a forged email but just a terminal on linux would do.<p>The company should have investigated if he did or didn't send the email
>It could’ve been a colleague because I know there is a backdoor way to send emails using someone else’s account via some sort of a SQL database thing. We used to do it as jokes but it was never used for something like this and I can’t imagine anyone that would hate me enough to go this far.<p>Most places would escort you out of the building for doing this.
Well, if the employer is just like "Well, sorry, too late now, we don't care that it's a forgery" then maybe it was a good thing you can move on.