robertsmithson
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posted on August 7, 2002 09:45:12 AM new
I work for a very large company and on an all too frequent basis there are employees being let go for using the company computer to do things other than their appointed work. This includes many individuals that appear to be hooked on online selling or shopping. It is very sad as some of the individuals that have be sacked are near retirement age and it is almost like the company uses the computer mis-use as an excuse to get rid of those workers. The compay warns and warns the personel but still many workers persist on doing these tasks outside of their scheduled lunch and break periods.
What are your thoughts on the subject and I'm sorry if the subject has been discussed before.
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trai
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posted on August 7, 2002 10:12:07 AM new
The boss pays you to do the work for the company, not your own hobby at the companys expense.
If they warn you, then anyone who gets the boot has no reason to complain.
One has to ask if its worth the risk to lose ones job over this. I would not think so!
[ edited by trai on Aug 7, 2002 10:36 AM ]
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Libra63
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posted on August 7, 2002 10:28:02 AM new
My son-in-law was fired by a large company for being on a email list that was forwarded by another employee through the company computer. The person receiving the email reported to the higher ups about the contents of the email which she deemed unfit. The whole employee list was fired because it says in their hand book, computers are to be used for business only. I am sure the company feels that they are not performing their committment to the company so they must go and I guess that is how I would feel if I owned a company. So yes, they should be let go. Doing eBay is another subject. Wouldn't it be nice to get paid from your company and eBay. How convenient but now think about it his password is now on a computer used by many and if he uses PayPal and logs into it from that computer someone can get that password also. Another PayPal problem arrises.
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sanmar
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posted on August 7, 2002 10:37:35 AM new
Do the crime, pay the time. Having been in a CEO position, I know how this can affect work. I see absolutely no excuse for using company time for personal use. Especially when it is in the personnel policies.
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gina50
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posted on August 7, 2002 11:19:27 AM new
Maybe that explains why I no longer get many ebay bids on my daytime ending auctions ~ used to get many 
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kiara
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posted on August 7, 2002 11:26:22 AM new
Nearing retirement age is no good excuse either. They are fortunate that they were able to still have a job that long and should have learned a few things by now.
I have always treated my employees very well but I also expect a certain productivity from them. The employer pays for the equipment, the internet connection, etc.
gina50, that is the downside of this. We want to get all the bids we can.
[ edited by kiara on Aug 7, 2002 11:29 AM ]
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robertsmithson
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posted on August 7, 2002 11:39:17 AM new
Many workers spend a great deal on newgroups as well. Every post they make has a time and date stamp on the message board and that's not counting any spy software or system history logs. The more important the job position the greater the risk of losing it from a stupid reason like computer mis-use as some co-workers can not wait to turn in the workers that seem to always be on the computer with non work related tasks. I suppose ebay and the internet in general have cost a very large number of employees their precious jobs. It's a shame that some people are so very foolish with their computer priviledges.
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kiara
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posted on August 7, 2002 11:44:25 AM new
Some companies are using special software to deter employees from doing this. Others do track their movements.
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computerboy
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posted on August 7, 2002 11:52:57 AM new
One of the millions of reasons I'd never work for anyone but myself. The thought of working for a large company that wants to dictate what I do and say makes me cringe. While I understand the ideaology behind the computer use policy, I'd never want to have to adhere to it myself. Independent for 15+ years and successful and hope to die this way, as well.
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robertsmithson
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posted on August 7, 2002 01:53:20 PM new
I guess you have never seen anyone do non business work on a computer for several hours a day. If you were paying their salary maybe you'd have a different opinion on the matter.
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rarriffle
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posted on August 7, 2002 02:32:51 PM new
there was a thread a few months ago....
someone's boss had bought software that essentially locked them out of ebay....
they were whining wanting to know how to get around the blocking software.....
if a boss is paying for your time, he deserves those hours be devoted to his business, not yours.
for this reason, i have chosen not to have internet access on our system at work.
we do have email access through our major software company and anyone caught sending or receiving personal email loses all email priveleges. the email is supposed to be to/from coworkers only
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nightman444
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posted on August 7, 2002 07:07:59 PM new
 NO WONDER THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO H--L IN A HAND BASKET. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO A HONEST DAYS WORK FOR A HONEST DAYS PAY. THE EMPLOYER IS PAYING EMPLOYEES TO WORK 8 HOURS FOR THEM 8 HOURS PER DAY NOT PLAY IN THE INTERNET. OR READ BOOKS , GOSSIP,READ THE NEWS PAPER, TAKING 40 MINUTE LUNCHES WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING 30. ETC. ETC. ETC. AS A SHOP FOREMAN I HAVE SEEN ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND MORE. THIS IS NOTHING BUT PURE OUT RIGHT THEFT, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS. AND IT SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. LETS JUST SAY A EMPLOYEE WASTE OR STEELS 30 MINUTES PER DAY FROM HIS OR HER EMPLOYER WORKING 5 DAYS PER WEEK 52 WEEKS PER YEAR THAT IS 260 DAYS TIMES 30 MINUTES = 7800 MINUTES OR 130 HOURS OF LOST OR STOLEN TIME AT $10.00 PER HOUR = $1300.00 STOLEN FORM THE EMPLOYER. A THEFT OF $1300.00 IN ANY STATE IS A FELONY. AND PUNIHSABLE BY PRISON TIME. ??????????? THE COMPANY i WORKED FOR HAD 1500 EMPLOYEES TAKE THAT TIMES $1300.00 = $1,950,000.00 LOSS PER YEAR. AND TO THINK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WONDER WHY WE ARE LOSING JOBS TO THE OVERSEAS MARKET. NUFF SAID NOW LET'S ALL GET BACK TO WORK.
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twinsoft
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posted on August 7, 2002 07:36:29 PM new
I get enough eBay at home. I don't need it at work too. LOL. Bottom line, it is stealing from the employer.
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demid
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posted on August 7, 2002 07:53:18 PM new
according to Nielson/NetRatings, Ebay is enjoying 6.7 million unique visitors at work, which makes Ebay the 5th most visited website in US.
http://pm.netratings.com/nnpm/owa/NRpublicreports.toppropertiesweekly
I absolutely agree with every comment above and think there is too much theft at the workplace in this country.
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sparkz
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posted on August 7, 2002 08:18:46 PM new
I agree, there is entirely too much personal use of computers in the workplace, which is nothing more than stealing from the employer. If an employee has any scruples at all, he will steal the computer and take it home and do Ebay on his own time, and give his employer an honest 8 hours per day work at the office.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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kiara
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posted on August 7, 2002 08:28:48 PM new
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Roadsmith
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posted on August 7, 2002 08:55:04 PM new
If you want to see misuse of company time, try looking around in Utah! Because the Mormon church has no paid clergy, the UNpaid bishops and their counselors for each ward (church) have regular jobs for their livelihoods. The amount of "bishopping" done on company time, including by college professors and staff, is outrageous. It's hard for me to understand their justification for stealing in the name of God.
And I agree with the postings above; you're paid to work for your boss or company. Do your own stuff on your own time.
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saddamhussien
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posted on August 7, 2002 09:47:53 PM new
You people are a bunch of slave drivers!!
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robertsmithson
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posted on August 7, 2002 10:23:09 PM new
Could saddamhussien be a Mormon bishop?
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on August 8, 2002 05:02:38 AM new
Just thought I'd point out another side to this issue. It IS okay to use the company computer to eBay IF you make arrangements with your boss to do so. Until recently, I was a Computer Service & Support specialist for a local college computer store. It was essential for me to be available during a normal work week at all times (in case of a computer emergency). However, there were slow-times during the year in which I would have all my job-related work completed. I made an arrangement with my boss where I was allowed to work on my personal eBay auctions while I was at work, if I had completed all of my other work. It was a great arrangement for everybody because I worked harder and more efficiently in order to gain my incentive to be able to sell on eBay. I even brought my eBay skills to play in my job, selling off discontinued parts/software for the computer store. Just like any other aspect of work, it's all about communication. If you're in a situation like I was, talk with your boss and come to a mutual understanding. However, abide by the final decision and don't try to get away with things behind your boss's back!
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lindajean
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posted on August 8, 2002 08:06:29 AM new
I have been self employed for 13 years now so it has been a while, but I was in accounting management prior. As a rule, an office is not like a factory. You have things your staff needs to get done, such as filing, processing orders, balancing books, filing reports, typing or whatever you expect in the office.
As I see it a person can work efficiently and keep on top of things or they can just be "paper pushing" and get nothing accomplished anyway. A good employee will not let the internet interfere with completing their duties. But, they will have spare time around these duties, and what they do with that time should be their own chosing.
I would much prefer someone to get their work done and play a bit than just sit and shuffle papers all day as many many people who just don't want to really work do anyway!
I guess it just depends on what type employee you have. Good ones are good and bad ones are bad -- signing onto the internet doesn't necessarily make a good one bad and not getting online during the day doesn't necessarily make a bad one good!
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lindajean
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posted on August 8, 2002 08:09:45 AM new
PS: NOTHING can compare to the lost time in America by smokers who take 18 "smoke" breaks a day. This may have improved in recent years, but when they first started banning smoking in work areas I couldn't keep my staff inside long enough to get anything done.
Of course, that is another story altogether and since the bosses who "ban" the internet usually smoke as well then they are much more tolerant of that habit.
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uaru
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posted on August 8, 2002 08:25:52 AM new
I think the most expensive software on many a company's computer is "Solitaire." When a employee is using that program on company time it really racks up the dollars.
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REAMOND
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posted on August 8, 2002 08:38:53 AM new
While productivity is always an issue, many employees do not realize that the equipment is also the property of the company.
The computer and everything on it belong to the company. There is no privacy right when using company equipment. This includes the company using "spyware" to reveal if someone is playing solitare, and show every internet site visited, view and/or retain all email if you access your private email from a company computer. Many companies use spyware that records every key stroke and mouse click.
You in effect have no privacy rights while using a company computer. For that reason alone, I wouldn't use company equipment for anything but company business.
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pretegra345
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posted on August 8, 2002 10:10:50 AM new
This is silly......
Your company/boss pays you to do a job, not make money on the site, or entertain yourself.
A little bit of surfing during a break is understandable, if it helps the employee recharge, but extended surfing is not acceptable.
You are being paid to do a job, not surf, the end.
If people who are whining about the company dictating what they do (when they are paying you) would think about how they would fee if they paid someone to do a job, instead the person did nothing and created more costs for them by entertaining themselves.......perahaps they would feel differently.
-M
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pretegra345
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posted on August 8, 2002 10:15:17 AM new
Another thing....
I'm a software development consultant, and I always bring my own lap top to work with me, will typically dial in through a local number (no cost to the company) or sometimes use their network.....I only check e-bay during lunch then (I eat at my desk) or when I have free time (Waiting for the client to review specs, etc).....
....the point is that I only devote time to other things when it's a break or I don't have anything else to do, and I use my equipment to do so.
Of course, I'm consulting from home this week on a hourly basis (part time), so it's not a big issue right now.
-M
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