Freelance worker discovers his former company still uses the work he owns, gets even by deleting the folder

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  • 01
    Font - I just deleted thousands of hours of work from my old job About 3 years ago I used to work as a videographer doing social media content for a 7 figure company. I was paid roughly just better than minimum wage and was cranking out (at one point) 50 videos a day. I was freelancing and was on a loose contract. I was desperate for the money.
  • 02
    Font - It was an insane amount of work and however I managed to do it for 6 months is beyond me, especially for how I was paid. The office was an incredibly bitter and snide place and it was clear that management would purpolsely stir to watch staff fight as a form of entertainment. I kept well away from it but it was incredibly stressful on top of video work.
  • 03
    Font - After about six months I pitch to the higher ups that my videos are making an insanely positive difference to their sales (I showed them graphs of interactions and direct links to sales on the website via my content) and asked for a pay rise. I compared my ideal salary to others in the industry and made a big deal about how it would still be less than I should be paid however I still wanted to continue working for them. I was fired hours later for, and I not, not "pulling my weight" as we
  • 04
    Font - I was fuming and now unemployed. I struggled for months to find any other job. Today (years later) whilst browsing a very old Google drive account, I found that said company was still using a folder I created and owned. They were mostly active in the files containing templates, adjustment layers, presets, and even video that I all created. Over 18 people were actively using it daily to continue with their social media campaigns. This was a cloud service that I was paying monthly for as I
  • 05
    Font - This is my drive and my work. I own it. So I copied the file as a local version for myself and then deleted the online version. Tomorrow they will wake up with none of their video assets (including things they were working on). Fu them.
  • 06
    Rectangle - levi241 S2 ago Keep us updated. This was fun. 18.3k Share
  • 07
    Font - pecqua S ago I wish OP waited a few days before posting, so that they could say what happened after. Do post a followup 7.4k Share
  • 08
    Font - taylors Unfortunately both Google Drive and Dropbox keep files around for 30 days so you can easily undelete stuff. If you're the owner and not them, maybe they won't have access to the undelete functionality. I'm not sure there. I actually think you could have just removed their access and it would have had the same effect. Just make the whole drive private, since you're the owner. Good stuff! 13.3k Share ...
  • 09
    Font - This Manner_256 OP. ago 3 Turns out you're right! I've done exactly that just to be safe 14.6k Share
  • 10
    Font - TeoN72 12 S ago Oh God, now you need to update us, I can't wait to hear the follow up 11.7k Share
  • 11
    Font - This Manner_256 OP. 73 35 I'll update the post if I hear further! I am weirdly excited to hear from them 4 15.5k Share
  • 12
    Font - SAD walrus_operator This sounded very illegal until I read that: This was a cloud service that I was paying monthly Well played OP! 6.5k Share
  • 13
    Product - BubulleW (S) This is litteraly anti work 4 6.2k Share
  • 14
    Font - This Manner_256 OP. 232 A quick little update as this is blowing up FAST: • I was using Google drive to store the files • all videoing and editting was done with my own equipment, not even their own. • I have restored the files but removed their permissions, so worst case scenario I can add them back to it quickly if needs be.
  • 15
    Font - • after digging around, my contract with them states that anything I filmed for them was and is my property even after the contract ends. I actually remember them bringing this up and me just stating this was standard industry practice. At this point they were totally fine with it and had no intention of letting me go as they genuinely quite liked me. • people are hung up on the 50 videos in a day thing so I'll explain the complexity of said videos; they were 1 minute average in length, 5

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