Executive Demands Personal Phone For Work, Leading IT Manager To Policy That Bites Him Back

A demanding executive barged into the company, insisting on using his sleek personal phone for work, clashing fiercely with the new IT manager determined to enforce standard equipment rules. The manager issued reliable company devices to the CEO’s close friend in the engineering role, but the exec rejected them outright, craving his preferred brand despite tight budgets, incompatible apps, and lack of team support.

Grievances mounted, a issued phone oddly failed, escalating pressure until the IT manager drafted a bring-your-own-device rule allowing personal gadgets on the network. A year later, as the exec departed for other reasons, he brushed off multiple offboarding alerts, choosing a long farewell lunch instead, prompting the manager to strictly apply policy and remotely erase the phone to secure data.

IT manager enforced BYOD policy by remotely wiping a difficult executive’s personal phone after ignored offboarding.

The Redditor’s frustration stemmed from repeated pushback against clear policies on supported tech, highlighting how one person’s demands can ripple through the team.

However, the executive likely felt entitled to tools that matched his workflow, perhaps viewing the standard options as outdated or inefficient. Yet, when he bypassed the offboarding process on his way out, it shifted the dynamic: the IT manager enforced a clause allowing remote action if company data removal couldn’t be verified in person.

This pettiness-tinged revenge touches on broader workplace trends around Bring Your Own Device setups. With remote and hybrid work booming, many companies now embrace personal gadgets to boost flexibility and cut costs. In fact, the global BYOD market reached $73 billion in 2024, reflecting widespread adoption for employee convenience.

However, these policies come with real security hurdles, like ensuring sensitive info doesn’t linger on departing staff’s devices. Experts emphasize the need for selective wipes where possible, targeting only work-related data to avoid erasing personal photos or contacts.

According to the Outsource Solution Group, “It’s not fair to remotely wipe someone’s personal device. Yet, remote wiping is an important cybersecurity measure for most companies. It prevents data leakage when theft or loss occurs or when an employee leaves the company.”

Modern tools like mobile device management systems help here, allowing IT to separate and remove just corporate files. Best practices include clear communication upfront: outline when wipes might happen, encourage backups, and use containers to isolate work apps. This balances protection with respect for privacy, reducing resentment and encouraging compliance.

When an employee skips the offboarding steps, company emails, documents, and login credentials can linger indefinitely on their personal phone, creating ongoing vulnerabilities. Lost or stolen devices amplify this, potentially exposing confidential files to strangers.

Mixing work apps with personal ones blurs boundaries, heightening chances of accidental shares or malware crossover that jeopardizes sensitive information without anyone noticing.

Ultimately, strong policies prevent escalations: train staff on rules, require timely offboarding, and opt for targeted security over blanket actions when feasible. Open discussions about device preferences early on can also diffuse tensions before they build.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Some people express satisfaction with petty revenge enabled by company IT policies.

Some people warn against messing with IT staff or share related IT terms and experiences.

Some people question modern impact of device wipes or ask for story details.

This user simply expresses strong approval.

This Redditor’s story wraps up with a mic-drop moment: sticking to policy delivered a dose of karma after months of friction. But it raises bigger questions: was the remote wipe a fair enforcement of rules designed to safeguard data, or did it cross into overkill territory?

How would you handle a demanding colleague pushing for exceptions, and what boundaries would you set in a BYOD setup? Drop your thoughts below, we’re all ears for your workplace war stories!