Outsourced his own job for 1/5th of his salary

[andy tims]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21043693

Brilliant

[Josh B]

Pah. I do the same amount of work as that guy without outsourcing diddly squat!

[petethegeek]

There's a little bit more here - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01...ces_job_china/

I am particularly struck by the idea of him simply FedExing his security token in order to allow access.

[Pras]

Good on him i say, but yeah the security might be an issue but this has given me some ideas now

[TheFlyingBanana]

Genius frankly.

[Anaxarch]

Excellent move :D But letting them use the companies VPN... not so smart I guess

Regards,
Al

[Omegamanic]

Genius frankly.

If he hadn't fupped up on the security!

[Mj2k]

Inspired.....just a shame about the VPN

[adrianw]

I don't see why it's a scam, the got what they paid him for

[Omegamanic]

I don't see why it's a scam, the got what they paid him for

I wouldn't say it's a scam - but he has given access to information and systems to a company that was not officially authorised to have it - god only knows what they will/could do with the information. Very easy to consider providing services very very cheaply, if you might get lots of valuable information, or IP.

[Skyman]

Pah. I do the same amount of work as that guy without outsourcing diddly squat!

Missed the point?

[Raffe]

Genius frankly.

Yep, confirmed.

[vulcangascompany]

"The software developer, in his 40s, is thought to have spent his workdays surfing the web, watching cat videos on YouTube and browsing Reddit and eBay."

Er isn't that what anyone in IT/developing does all day anyway?

[markrlondon]

I don't see why it's a scam, the got what they paid him for

Indeed, there was no scam. He fulfilled his side of the bargain. He is a genuine entrepreneur. In fact he is really only doing what dozens of larger businesses have done to entire departments.

The only downside was the (potential) security issue.

[VoleBoy]

I read a description of a book (I think) where somebody outlined this exact way of making money. Basically taking everything you do, and paying someone else to do it for less, and spend a little bit of your time managing them. Sounds like this person read that book.

[flugzeit]

I read about this too, and I have to say, it seems quite logical and rational on his part considering the shape of current world. We're laughing now, and various people will rap him over the knuckles... but it may will prove to be the norm, sooner rather than later...

-flugzeit

[gray]

Verging on genius - I wonder how his other "jobs" are holding up?

[Lauting]

Genius....(was chuckling whilst reading the article).

[thegreatdogwood]

Yes, well worth reading the atricle, albeit with a few flaws to the "grand scheme"

[Dave E]

I saw that and thought it was fabulous.

[europa]

As noted above, if a business does this, it's standard practice. If an individual does it, it's viewed as 'cheating' or bad form at the very least. (security issue aside).

[andrew]

As noted above, if a business does this, it's standard practice. If an individual does it, it's viewed as 'cheating' or bad form at the very least. (security issue aside).

Yup. The double standards - and hypocrisy - are quite clear and obvious.

I can't see how any corporate suit can defend the outsourcing of their company's activity yet at the same time claim that individual outsourcing is indefensible. Both are acting in self-interest. They fired him because he made a fool out of them. Security is a red herring; the same security restrictions apply when companies handling sensitive customer information pass it to India, China, etc. etc. Customers are told to accept it, and they do. Companies can be told to accept it too... in time.

[DS3R]

The beeb article said he had multiple jobs, so had multiple employers paying him, and effectively an "account" with the off-shore firm.

Which is brilliant, and says a lot about the checks that were NOT carried out by the other employers.

Under UK law you have at least an implied duty of fiduciary to your employer, ie to act in their best interests and avoiding conflicts of interest. I doubt the US is much different, so being caught out might be... hurtful to him!

Does make you wonder how many others are doing the same, but acting as intermediaries between their email & a 3rd party's, as that way this could have been undetectable.

[Atlantic]

Isn't this just what outsourcing companies like Capita and Serco do? Except they do it on a wholesale basis.

This guy is an astute businessman. He'll be getting awarded the NHS IT contract next.

[markrlondon]

Yup. The double standards - and hypocrisy - are quite clear and obvious.

I can't see how any corporate suit can defend the outsourcing of their company's activity yet at the same time claim that individual outsourcing is indefensible. Both are acting in self-interest. They fired him because he made a fool out of them. Security is a red herring; the same security restrictions apply when companies handling sensitive customer information pass it to India, China, etc. etc. Customers are told to accept it, and they do. Companies can be told to accept it too... in time.

Well said.