How to Respond to an Employee Request for Personal Photos | [Your Website Name]

D.

This scenario presents a situation where a terminated employee, Ann, has left personal photos on a company-issued laptop and no longer has access to them. She emails her previous manager and asks to get her personal photos back. The manager's response should take into account several factors, such as the security of the company's data, the legal and regulatory requirements, and the company policies around employment and termination procedures.

Option A suggests that the manager should determine if the data still exists by inspecting the laptop to ascertain if it has already been wiped and if the storage team has recent backups. This is a reasonable response because it allows the manager to determine if the data still exists and if it can be retrieved. However, this response does not address the legal and regulatory requirements or the company policies around employment and termination procedures.

Option B suggests that the manager should inform Ann that the laptop was for company data only and she should not have stored personal photos on a company asset. While this response may be true, it is not helpful in resolving the issue at hand. It also does not take into account the sensitivity of the personal photos or the legal and regulatory requirements.

Option C suggests that the manager should report the email because it may have been a spoofed request coming from an attacker who is trying to exfiltrate data from the company laptop. While this response is appropriate for suspicious emails, it is not the best response in this scenario because the email is likely legitimate, and the issue needs to be resolved.

Option D suggests that the manager should consult with the legal and/or human resources department and check company policies around employment and termination procedures. This is the best response because it addresses the legal and regulatory requirements and the company policies around employment and termination procedures. It also ensures that the company is following the correct procedures and protocols for handling this type of request. Additionally, consulting with legal and human resources may also help ensure that the personal photos are returned to Ann in a manner that respects her privacy and complies with any applicable laws or regulations.

In summary, the best response for the manager in this scenario is to consult with the legal and/or human resources department and check company policies around employment and termination procedures. This response addresses the legal and regulatory requirements, the company policies around employment and termination procedures, and helps to ensure that the personal photos are returned to Ann in a manner that respects her privacy and complies with any applicable laws or regulations.