If you have a flat management structure sure, but in this case they knew they were breaking the company's change management procedures because they were going to "slip the code into production without anyone catching on"

I'll wager they were strongly warned they might not be so lucky if they try a stunt like this again. If something had gone wrong they'd all be out of a job and good luck getting a favorable reference.

So? You do realize that most people who write code can easily find other jobs, and are usually paid better for thinking outside the box, right?

>>if they try a stunt like this again

Dear Principal Skinner - I will never make management look like idiots again. Sincerely, Bart.

Good luck finding a new job without a reference from your most recent employer. I suppose someone who is deceitful enough to "slip the code into production without anyone catching on" wouldn't have a problem "thinking outside the box" to get around that though, if we're going down this road we might as well go all in.

My new employer may even increase my pay even further once they realize I diddled them with my last employer's reference to mask a termination for willful misconduct.

I got as frustrated with IE6 as the next developer but this doesn't give anyone license to resort to "guerrilla methods"

> "Good luck finding a new job without a reference from your most recent employer."

In what country / region / province do you work? I understand it is actually unlawful for an employer to give or ask for references in the US, and perhaps even Europe.

In my country, it's legal and widely used, so much so the government entity that is supposed to look out for the workers provides a template for employers with suggested questions you should ask which even go as far as the person's reason given for leaving, their work performance and if you would re-hire them.

That's... oppressive. If you don't want to say the country, what continent is it?

Guess I better produce some proof before I get even more down votes... https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/766/Reference-c...

Every job I've gotten had no reference from my most recent employer. How would that work, anyway? Most people look for a new job in secret, while they still have their old one, and giving their current employer as a reference would spill the beans.

I mean... who cares about the reference, these people are gonna be imminently employable anywhere. The only thing on the line for them was _this_ job, which they probably liked, but doing a good thing and risking something you like is just courage.