Five Things You Need to Do When an Employee Leaves Your Business

People leave their jobs for all types of reasons. Sometimes they move on to different opportunities, sometimes they retire, and sometimes, the change is initiated by you. Regardless of the reason for their departure, they’re gone, and you have some loose ends to tie up before you can begin the process of finding their replacement. Let’s look at five things you need to do immediately when someone leaves your organization.

Cut Off Their Access Right Away

As soon as they quit or get let go, shut down their access to company systems—email, cloud storage, software, and any other accounts they used for work. The longer their access stays open, the bigger the risk of security issues, whether on purpose or by accident.

Change Any Shared Passwords

If they had access to shared accounts, update those passwords ASAP. Even if they were trustworthy, it’s just smart to reset everything. A password manager can help keep things secure and make sure only the right people have access.

Save and Secure Important Files

Before they leave, make sure all their work files are backed up and stored somewhere the company controls. If they use a personal laptop or phone for work, double-check that nothing important is left behind. This way, their replacement won’t be stuck hunting for missing files.

Forward Their Emails and Calls

You don’t want important emails or calls disappearing into a black hole. Set up email forwarding so messages still reach the right people. If they had a work phone, update the voicemail or redirect calls so clients and vendors don’t get left hanging.

Check for Security Risks

Review login history, device usage, and anything suspicious before and after they leave. This helps catch any weird activity, like unauthorized downloads or system changes. If needed, update security policies so future exits go even smoother.

Handling an employee’s exit the right way keeps your business secure and makes the transition easier for everyone. Taking these steps helps avoid drama and keeps everything running without a hitch.

If you would like to get some perspective about all the risks you face with technology when you have a lot of turnover in your workforce, and what you can do to mitigate it, give the IT professionals at Capital Technology Group a call today at (501) 375-1111.