Title: Fired KiranaPro Staff Deleted Entire Code & Data: A Cautionary Tale of Poor Employee Offboarding
As the startup ecosystem continues to grow and evolve, the importance of proper employee offboarding cannot be overstated. A recent incident involving KiranaPro, a startup that provides AI-powered retail solutions, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of poor employee offboarding. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the details of the incident and explore the lessons that can be learned from this cautionary tale.
According to reports, a fired KiranaPro staff member deleted the entire code and data of the startup, leaving the company in a state of chaos. The incident was revealed by KiranaPro’s CEO, Deepak Ravindran, who shared a GitHub email that confirmed the ex-employee’s credentials were used for the deletion.
The root cause of the problem lies in the fact that KiranaPro did not have a full-time HR team. As a result, employee offboarding was not being handled properly, and the fired staff member still had access to the company’s credentials. This is a common mistake that many startups make, and it’s a lesson that needs to be learned.
In an interview with TechCrunch, KiranaPro’s CTO, Saurav Kumar, explained the situation: “Employee off-boarding wasn’t being handled properly because there was no full-time HR. We didn’t have the right processes in place to handle the offboarding of employees, and that’s what led to this situation.”
The consequences of this incident are severe. The startup’s code and data have been wiped clean, and the company is now facing delays in paying its employees’ salaries. The founder, Deepak Ravindran, has expressed his regret over the situation and has promised to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
This incident serves as a wake-up call for startups and small businesses to prioritize employee offboarding. It’s not just a matter of following the legal requirements; it’s also a matter of protecting the company’s assets and ensuring a smooth transition for departing employees. Here are some lessons that can be learned from this incident:
- Have a comprehensive employee offboarding process in place: This should include steps such as collecting company property, updating access controls, and providing a farewell letter to the departing employee.
- Ensure that departing employees do not have access to company assets: This includes removing their access to company email accounts, deleting their login credentials, and ensuring that they do not have physical access to company property.
- Communicate with departing employees: Ensure that departing employees are aware of the company’s expectations and the process for offboarding. This includes providing them with a clear timeline for when they will be leaving the company and what they need to do to prepare.
- Review and update company policies: This includes reviewing employee handbooks, policies, and procedures to ensure that they are up-to-date and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.
In conclusion, the incident at KiranaPro serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper employee offboarding. It’s a lesson that can be learned by startups and small businesses alike, and it’s essential to prioritize this process to protect the company’s assets and ensure a smooth transition for departing employees.
