Employee's access to software gets revoked by IT, so they send IT a list of all the tasks they need to take over: ‘Within 30 minutes, the decision was reversed and I had my access back’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 1, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Most companies operate by one of these two policies: Either everyone has full access to everything, and security is a vague concept, or no one but one person in the company can access the most important software, causing a bottleneck in tasks for the one who has permission to do anything.

I used to work in a company where every single employee had access to the company credit card. You can imagine the chaos and security hazard this caused, especially when employees quit and no one thought to take that information away from them. The CFO had to cancel that card every two months because of all the unexplained charges.

On the other side of the coin, you have companies like the one in the story below. One day, out of the blue, this employee's admin access to one of their software applications was revoked, as IT claimed it was due to security risks. Instead of resisting this decision, this employee decided to let it be and see what happens.

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  • This employee sent IT a list of all the tasks they can no longer complete without the software access, telling them that it is now their responsibility to get the job done.

    It wasn't long before the access was restored and things got back to the way they were…

  • 01
    8 ACCESS DENIED
    via hanieriani

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    Access Removed - Here’s allllll my work

    I work in a role where I 'own' a portion of the software. I don't work in IT but I do system configuration for the portion I manage.
    via stemcella
  • 03
    I had admin access until one day IT removed it without warning and without notice. They claimed 'risk' and 'board decisions'.
    via stemcella
  • 04
    Of course I could rampage and get my access back because saves the company a significant amount of money each year as we don't need to use external contractors.
    via stemcella
  • 05
    There's also no one else in the company that knows my part of the system or how to create business rules, scripting and coding for this particular system.
    via stemcella
  • 06
    While people know JavaScript they would need to become familiar with the system which will take time.
    via stemcella
  • 07
    Instead- fine; sends a list of alllll the things they now need to take over so the work still gets done.
    via stemcella
  • 08
    Noted there can be no delays in turnaround time despite there being an extra step. Noted that I will still need to approve every change and configuration.
    via stemcella
  • 09
    The list totalled to approximately 30 hours per week. It also requires 6am starts at points through the month.
    via stemcella
  • 10
    young guy typing on computer
    via yacobchuk

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    I made sure to also confirm they would also be required to come with me for all meetings regarding the system or data because I won't be repeating myself or duplicating my effort.
    via stemcella
  • 12
    Within 30 minutes the decision was reversed and I had my access back.
    via stemcella
  • 13
    I don't think that'll be changing back any time soon. Not when we work under separate budgets and their team always cry time and cost poor.
    via stemcella
  • 14
    georgiomoorlord I had to do this recently too. The new CTO doesn't know how the business runs
    via georgiomoorlord
  • 15
    HuTyphoon You should have just applied for leave for a couple weeks and left the place to burn.
    via HuTyphoon
  • 16
    unknownpoltroon shouldn't have accepted access against company policy without a commensurate raise and a change in written policy
    via unknownpoltroon
  • 17
    a-curious-guy My company removed admin privalgies over-night, with no notice to our department of 60 people. No CLI, can't run .exe's, couldn't access task manager etc. Free 1 week holiday lol.
    via a-curious-guy
  • 18
    Defiant Size5991 This is the perfect way to handle it. You didn't get emotional, you just clearly outlined the operational consequences of their decision. It's wild how often management
    via Defiant_Size5991
  • 19
    makes these "risk-based" calls without understanding the actual work involved. Forcing them to own the logistical nightmare is the only language they seem to understand.
    via Defiant_Size5991
  • 20
    m1ndboggl3r5 Now sounds like a great time to ask for a raise.
    via m1ndboggl3r5

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boss access workplace-stories tech support employee manager job malicious compliance tales-from-the-workplace software overworked-employees workplace company funny
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