Ellen Messmer writes in a recent itbusiness.ca article that 59% of laid off workers admitted to stealing company data on their way out the door.

I never would have guessed that number would be so high.  First, I'm thinking that many people who had actually done this would not admit to it.  So the actual number must be much higher.

I've also worked at companies that waited weeks, months, or even years before turning off accounts for laid off employees. So who knows how many former employees are still "data mining" after they are gone.

That's according to the "Jobs at Risk - Data at Risk" survey published Monday by Ponemon Institute.

The research firm found that 61per cent of respondents who felt negatively about the company took data while only 26 per cent of those with a favorable view did. Only 31 per cent of those surveyed said they had "trust" in their former employer to "act with integrity and fairness," 25 per cent were "unsure" and 44per cent did not have trust.

Of the 945 individuals in the survey, which was sponsored by Symantec, 37 per cent said they were asked to leave, 38 per cent said they had found a new job and 21 per cent moved on because they anticipated lay-offs.

I've also had to fight to protect my clients when new hires show up with CDs and thumbdrives full of data models they are offering to "share" with their new employer.  While I have worked at companies where this corporate stealing was allowed and rewarded, I can't think of a more stupid sign to send to your new boss than the fact that you are willing to steal from your employers.

Nearly 60 per cent of fired workers "steal company data" before quitting