Tree a slight contradiction in your statements:
"I think you'll find EM had been planning to go for a long time and had, therefore been tying up lose ends as he was packing up his things to leave. I have heard he enlisted a couple of neighbours to clear up final bills and sales"
and:
"Leaving the way he has, IMHO, has given some fuel for the argument that with poor treatment, low morale and lack of security, people will make such rash moves with no cares as to what situation it will leave the company."
So basically he planned to do a runner a long time ago. I think I am correct in saying that it is not the first time that he has done this. Am I also correct in saying that he notified the Company that he was not returning to work very shortly after pay day?
I would like to contest the fact that these actions will not hurt others, are we talking logic or reality here? Sure, it's great to see someone get one back on the company he feels has let him down, or whatever, but there are other issues here as well.