Former Lab Technician Weighs Whether to Return Critical Calibration Records

After three and a half decades in a QA laboratory, the writer was let go following a corporate merger that replaced his supervisor with someone lacking lab experience. To accommodate his left-handedness, he recorded results on paper and entered them later, a method the new manager labeled a procedural violation. The dismissal was officially for insubordination.

During the exit process, staff inadvertently included a box of calibration standards and a notebook documenting quarterly equipment checks in his personal belongings. These items are essential for maintaining product quality and could trigger costly recalls or failed customer audits if missing. The columnist advises returning the materials with a brief note, avoiding further conflict while preserving the writer’s future options. He also suggests that, if the company later seeks his expertise, he could negotiate a high consulting fee.