Should I stop posting from work?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Just got this internal work email. It was sent to everyone, not just me.

JUST A REMINDER

"E-mail and Internet are to be utilized for work related purposes only. All non-work related use is stricly prohibited. The computers and E-Mail system are owned and maintained by the City of <blank> and may be used for city business purposes only".(City of <blank> Administrative Manual)

Thank you for adhereing to this policy.
A little bit of backstory that you may already know: In the past they have never hassled people for this, even though it has always been the rule. Even my technophobe boss can be seen reading gossip columns online. Things get very slow at the branches.

The city has closed down the big library and there are lots of us crammed into the two tiny branches with nothing to do. Just this week they've told the part-timers that they have to cut their hours for a while, because there's nothing to do. (Happily, I'm exempt from that.) They also apparently came down on a coworker of mine that loves to tell long loud stories in the back office and laughs way too loudly. All of this is audible to patrons, making us look bad.

My current worry is that the really are cracking down on things like this because patrons may notice, and as usual, it's their tax dollars paying us. They are extra worried about public opinion due to the closure of the main library.

Having said that, I'll reiterate that everyone here uses the net for fun. No one has said anything in person, and the person who sent this is an administrative/secretarial type who doesn't work at this location. If I just keep it to times when I'm sitting on desk with nothing to do, I think I'll be ok.

What do you guys think? Especially those of you who've done managerial jobs before, what do you think of the tone of this email?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

It sounds rather boilerplateish to me. I'd continue to read/post, but just be careful. Observe the habits of your cow-orkers and superiors. If you sense their behavior changing, you might want to cut back—at least temporarily.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'd say as long as your immediate superiors don't seem to have a problem with it and/or aren't making an extra effort to detect "violations" of the policy, it's unlikely to be an issue.

[libraryvixen]

reading that email, I see this: Look busy so the patrons think the money is going to good use. I can understand not using the system email to send out personal mail, but for a staff member like me who didn't get a work address, it's a pain to NOT use my professional gmail name for business purposes.

A lot of the decisions made for our system are made by people who have not set a foot in a branch for many, many years. Likewise, the policies they make are not practical for anything except causing many trees to die as the memos get sent along.

In my case, a lot of my info on DL comes from this site. I'm able to pass it along to patrons and (just recently) my boss who needed vacation planning info. So, really.....LoT is loosely work related. :snap:

I agree, there is a tendency to be slow at the branch. For me, I just look busy (reading the boards) and typing (just as I am now responding to the post)... but that's not to say that I don't see other staff members looking at things that interest them when there are no patrons to assist. I find that by looking at Internet Movie Database, I hone my skill as the "Movie Girl" or by looking at Disney things, I also expand my knowledge as the "Disney Expert (heh)" in the system.

If using the internet interferes with the job, then the Branch Head (or manager) would have to deal with the unproductive person/s.
As for the storyteller, if you are on friendly terms with the person, I would talk to them about storytelling away from the patrons, like maybe before or after work. If the story has to be told, again, ask them to be more discreet.

[Not Afraid]

It sounds like you have a make a personal choice based on risk. If you have a manager who is under pressure or is they type of manager who puts pressure on the employees, I would not risk it. It could be grounds for diciplinary action. But, many companies reiterate their policies on occasions so if they "need to enforce the policy" they have done their side of the deal by notifying the employee.

[FEJ]

Since you are on their dime while there and on their equipment, they have every right enforce the non-personal use policy. That being said, I agree with Lisa, what risk are you willing to take? If you decide to continue using it for personal use after receiving the email, then it is for you to be accountable for any disciplinary action taken against you, including termination. Now you are a volounteer to any dicipline, not a victim of misunderstanding or corporate red tape. Even if your immediate supervisors say it's ok, but the policy comes from higher up, the ultimate responsibility comes to you. (I know this from 15 years at a big corporation)

While I may not always agree with the policy, there is a reason for it.

If it were me, I would minimize the risk and not do it. If they were paying you to surf the web, they would have put it in your job description ;)

[libraryvixen]

If it were me, I would minimize the risk and not do it. If they were paying you to surf the web, they would have put it in your job description ;)

I think they DO pay me to surf the web.

[scaeagles]

Is there any sort of system software monitoring activity on you network at the library? It is possible that they will be tracking usage, especially if it has been slow and they may have need to let some employees go.

Risk/benefit analysis.....

[libraryvixen]

In my system, there are none. There are too many lower staff members that weren't given official library addresses. Our library system has a filter of sorts that blocks for porn, but that's it.

[Kevy Baby]

Count me in the conservative, cautionary group: lay off the work surfing habits if you value your job. Better to be safe than sorry. While it could just be the typical corporate CYA, it could also be the ground-work for staff reductions. Ease off for a while and see what shakes out.

Observe the habits of your cow-orkers...Watch out for cow-orkers!

[scaeagles]

Watch out for cow-orkers!

What is orking, and how exactly does one do it to a cow?

[Kevy Baby]

What is orking, and how exactly does one do it to a cow?As I understand, it is a little like cow tipping, but involves a lot of Astro-Glide.

[sleepyjeff]

As I understand, it is a little like cow tipping, but involves a lot of Astro-Glide.

I only tip cows if they bring me my water with a slice of lime ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I guarantee you they don't have monitoring software. If they did, there would have been a lot more discipline going around. Plus, it would be more than me getting busted. I have one coworker who uses AIM at work, all the time, even if the place is busy. I have done that in the past but the guilt/worry gets to me so I've done it only a couple of times, and during those times I was completely alone at the desk, and helped one patron every 20 minutes.

Regarding manager attitudes. There are many levels of "boss" around here. The biggest boss (with the most strict attitude) is the one I mentioned above - uses the net as well. I'm also sure that if there was going to be a shakedown, it would filter down quickly that we should all stop, and we would.
If you decide to continue using it for personal use after receiving the email, then it is for you to be accountable for any disciplinary action taken against you, including termination.I'll take the responsibility if I'm busted. But I know for a fact that if I was "busted", it would definitely be a minor infraction. I'd be called aside and told not to do it. Then I'd apologize without excuse, and stop. The library is a tight knit group. We all know each other, and even the highest of the high are approachable people who understand what goes on at the front desk.

What I am going to do is limit the amount of time I'm on. I've been sloppy lately. And if there's any pressure at all on me, I'll bow to it.

[MickeyLumbo]

Is there any sort of system software monitoring activity on you network at the library? It is possible that they will be tracking usage, especially if it has been slow and they may have need to let some employees go.

Risk/benefit analysis.....

there certainly is at my job.

[FEJ]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I guarantee you they don't have monitoring software. If they did, there would have been a lot more discipline going around. Plus, it would be more than me getting busted. I have one coworker who uses AIM at work, all the time, even if the place is busy. I have done that in the past but the guilt/worry gets to me so I've done it only a couple of times, and during those times I was completely alone at the desk, and helped one patron every 20 minutes.


Don't be too sure of that. It might not be at your location. Are your computers stand-alone or do you log into a network?

They also may have sent the email as a friendly warning before they started the discipline. That happened at my work. They could have fired about 35 people for falsifying, but instead, they put out the warning letter, and gave people a chance to self-correct it. In the end only 5 people ended up getting canned for the reason stated in the letter.

The latest for us has been Cell Phone use while driving. If we are caught, we WILL get suspended and possibly fired. (It is in policy that they are not to be used while operating company vehicles) They had the big meeting and announcement about it this last Tuesday.

Keeping it to a minimum sounds like the best alternative. (If you do it on breaks, that is another good way, shows that you are consciencence of their time)

[Mousey Girl]

I would be careful. Since there is a job surplus going on things that didn't used to be a problem are now going to be taken more seriously. If you are on a network they can keep tabs on everyone. I doubt that you would have a problem, but I have seen things where people have been fired just so the company can set an example (it just happened at SBC-not just to me, but last week someone was fired for something that in the past would have been a slap on the wrist).

[€uroMeinke]

Before computers, it was personal use of phones. Generally these things are like speed limits, they aren't enforced that much, but will sometimes use them to make examples.

In my work experience this is one of those polices that is used to get rid of employees that people don't like. I've seen employees fired for similar infractions when the office's political environment changes.

Also, having had to do investigations on employees, it's amazing what kind of logs are kept - for a very long time - detailing the activity of specific computers. I'd head Ubergeeks warning on that one - if you plug into a network, a log is generated.

But, I want to add one more cautionary element to your decission making. BY stating the equipemnt is for work use only, they are also pretty much telling you that you should have no expectation of privacy (Now they probably already informed you of this when you hired on buried somewhere in fine print). So, be wearing of writting anything that might embarrass you.

You have an additional element of working for a government agency in that your computer use and communications could be subject to a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request. Granted this is usually what community gad flies annoy their mayors and city council with, but tick off a patron and they could do this just to annoy you. I know lots of people who manage city records and this is part of their daily work.

What that really means, is it covers the city/library if you do anything embarrassing - they can fire you right away pointing to their policy saving face with the community.

Personaly, I'm thinking a Treo might be a good investment for myself sometime in the future ;)

[lindyhop]

I work for a very conservative company IT-wise. We have to go nearly all the way up to the president to get approval to give someone internet access. We get the same sort of message CP quoted every single time we log in to our computers and have to click Okay, yes we agree, to get past the message and on with our work. While I have internet access, I am too paranoid to use it for anything but very specificaly work-related functions.

[mistyisjafo]

Many companies have this policy. Luckily mine does not but I know many people who have to live by this rule. Under no circumstances are they allowed to view the web. I know someone who was fired for it even.

I'd be more likely to follow company policy. Try to stay away. Even tho it blows!

[Monorail Man]

And THIS is why I aspire to be the Sys-Admin some day. This is what makes learning Sysco/Unix/Windows networking so worth it. ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ok.

The head librarian of my branch printed out the email, posted it, and asked us all to initial it.

So I've decided to only use the net on late nights after everyone's gone.

It's the end of an era....at least for a while. Perhaps in a few months when the heat is off again I'll be on here a bunch more.

Even so, I have inordinate amounts of free time, so no worries, I'm not going anywhere. :)

[MickeyLumbo]

:-(

i will miss reading your posts.

i think playing it safe is the wise thing to do.

it has been killing me to have 10 hours of 'net access all day at my fingertips and not check in with you guys...and then, when i finally get home, sitting back down in front of a computer is - well, exhausting!

i have tons more to say... LOL, but, i'm exhausted:cheers:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I know no one cares but here's the nail in my crappy story coffin -

Just got a new email today saying that they are going to send the tech guy around...to disable internet access on all computers.

I'll be able to go log onto the public computers on my break using my library card just like any patron, but other than that, zero net access.

Ah well, I bloody deserve it.

[Drince88]

Wow! You don't need to get on to the internet to help patrons? I assume the intrAnet will still be up, though, so you can do stuff like interlibrary loans and such? Ok, I just think you'd have to be able to occassionally SHOW a patron how to do the online library stuff.

Be interesting to see if they notice it hampering your ability to do your job, and install a password to the internet sort of system...

[mousepod]

That.......


SUCKS.

Employers who judge their employees by how busy they are rather than by how much they accomplish really get my goat. How sad.

(I always make sure to take my goat back when they're not looking)

[€uroMeinke]

It sucks - but is becoming more and more typical as it's one sure way your employer can protect itself from litigation/public scrutiny. I'm not there yet at my workplace, but the days are numbered - already filtering software and firewalls are restricting access to only company approved content.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I love working for a tech company.

Although my internet use has dropped over the last couple of weeks because they are making us fill out time reporting sheets. They claim (and I have no reason to not believe them) that they aren't for checking up on how we're using our time, but rather to build a case that delays in our test cycle aren't our department's fault, but even so, there's only so much truth stretching I can do to fill this thing out, so I'm having to spend a little more time monitoring tests rather than being online. Which is lame, because I CAN do both and no one ever really watches what I'm doing or anything, but I just don't want to risk someone saying, "Your time sheet says you worked 4 hours on this project last week, but I saw you on the internet for 2 hours." Bleh.

[katiesue]

That sucks. I've read a lot lately about people being let go for blogging about their jobs - even while not at work.

My company has something in our employee handbook that states they understand you need to use the phones/internet sometimes for personal use. We have all the usual firewalls etc so we can't get to or log into some sites but otherwise as long as it's not interfering with your job surf away. I'm sure somewhere in corporate there's a program keeping track of what everyone's doing but I've never heard of it being a problem for anyone.

We also all use IM to communicate with people in our other offices.

[Brigitte]

I love my job :) Working for myself means I decide. I'm sure working for someone else now would majorly put a cramp in my internet style.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I know if that my company were keeping tabs on use, they would have long ago asked "What the hell is xenarchy.com??" At one point, looking at the site's statistics, the top 3 domains that people were accessing the LoT from were Adelphia (that'd be everyone with Adelphia cable modems), Cox (again, everyone with a Cox cable modem), and my company (that would be...me).

[€uroMeinke]

I know if that my company were keeping tabs on use, they would have long ago asked "What the hell is xenarchy.com??"

Not necessariy, we're getting to the point that we generate more information than a human can possible deal with - hence the emergence of these hueristic monitoring tools. I know in my company, nobody is reviewing the logs as they are created, but should a problem be flagged ALL the data is pulled and ready to be reviewed.

I've been involved in investigations of employees and was amazed if not a bit frightened of all the information they had gathered about the employees online activities, but all of that would have gone unnoticed if other things didn't lead to the investigation in the first place.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not necessariy, we're getting to the point that we generate more information than a human can possible deal with - hence the emergence of these hueristic monitoring tools. I know in my company, nobody is reviewing the logs as they are created, but should a problem be flagged ALL the data is pulled and ready to be reviewed.That's essentially what I meant. I do kinda assume they're logging stuff, but I know I haven't been flagged yet.

Of course, I do most of my surfing from a system that's not tied to me by name in any way. Of course, it's easy for them to locate it, and that would tie it to me, but in terms of automatic logging under my "file", they can't.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Wow! You don't need to get on to the internet to help patrons? I assume the intrAnet will still be up, though, so you can do stuff like interlibrary loans and such? Ok, I just think you'd have to be able to occassionally SHOW a patron how to do the online library stuff.

Be interesting to see if they notice it hampering your ability to do your job, and install a password to the internet sort of system...These are VERY good points. We will continue to be networked simply for our catalog to work. They said something like "one computer will continue to have internet access for stock ordering purposes", so I guess that'd be the boss' desk computer.

During tax time the reference librarians are continually using their computers to get onto the IRS' website and download particular forms for patrons. I wouldn't be surprised if they enabled them to do this again when that time comes around.

I have helped lots of patrons with everyday direction questions, because I'm really fast with mapquest/yahoo yellow pages. We do have paper street maps at the desk as well but obviously that's not going to help me find the nearest McDonalds. I don't get requests like that often but they do happen, in the guise of "do you know a place around here that..." Since I don't live up there I've taken to using the net to help them out, especially if I have nothing else to do.

So much for that. And I'm not going to stick my neck out and be a proponent for bringing the 'net back.

BTW, found out what started the scrutiny - a coworker got an email featuring beefcake and was spied on by the Branch Head Librarian, who's nice but as pure as the driven snow. Sigh.

[MickeyLumbo]

beefcake: the Devil's workshop for librarian's:evil:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Update, in case anyone cares.

The warnings from our myriad bosses continue. We've received 3 more reminders since I last posted here about it, one actually mentioning not to play solitaire on the computer. The last one was from the Biggest Boss Lady repeating that they are going to take away access from us, which they haven't done yet.

I've weaned myself off of it and now read books at the desk. IMHO this looks worse to the patrons than surfing (since it looks like we're working) and it makes it harder for me to notice someone waiting (when I'm using the computer my head is up, when I read my head is down). But hey, it beats staring off into space. We've also been cautioned to keep our talk down to a minimum and to not talk about stuff in front of the patrons. It sounds obvious, but you try sitting still for 10 whole minutes at a time unable to do anything. If they come after us for reading, THEN I'm going to say something.

It's been tough. Surfing is an automatic thing for me.

I can still post from my morning job, like now. But as of next week things are going to be rather busy for me here, so I probably won't be able to do it often.

[MickeyLumbo]

damn, not only do i never get to see you anymore...now, i won't even get your posts?

what's with these patrons? can't they check out the material "self-serve" style like at Home Depot and leave the staff to more imortant work like talking to me?

missing you more and more each day:(

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Sorry to hear about this, J. And I can commiserate. Two months ago, we had to sign that we would not only not use the internet, but that we would not do anything that was not related to work at our desk. We will be immediately let go if they catch us.

That means that if I want to write "buy tofu" on a sticky note, I have to go down eight flights of stairs and walk the length of the building all the way to the cafeteria to do it. I would like to thank those responsible for making an already painful workday more painful!

[Prudence]

Great googly moogly! Are there any exceptions? If you have a family member in life-threatening surgery are you allowed to receive updates? Can schools call parents to tell them that little Timmy broke both arms and one leg in PE? Can landlords call to tell you that by the way, your hot water heater failed and your apartment is has a foot of standing water and do they have permission to enter and fix it? So if you don't have a cell phone, so much for making appointments at places that are only open 8-5? Ish!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

what's with these patrons? can't they check out the material "self-serve" style like at Home Depot and leave the staff to more imortant work like talking to me?Now that you mention it, our renovated library will feature self-check stations, and we are going to encourage everyone to use them.

Probably means less of us on the payroll though. Can't stop progress :D

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Great googly moogly! Are there any exceptions?

Googly moogly indeed. No exceptions. Cell phones must be on silent or off. It is a prison that pays my rent.

[MickeyLumbo]

Googly moogly indeed. No exceptions. Cell phones must be on silent or off. It is a prison that pays my rent.


welcome to my world -- er, land.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

welcome to my world -- er, land.:( Don't tell me you actually view your job as a prison! I thought you loved your job.

LSPE - you must find a job closer to your heart! I hope you're keeping an eye out...

[Moonliner]

Typically this type of policy is put in place so they can go after the true abusers. People that do nothing but surf all day or visit all the best (by which I mean worst) P0rn sites....

In anycase I think just to be safe, you had better set up an alternative URL for LoT. Something like: CongressionalResearch.com or DeweyLookups.com complete with fake front page and secret passthrough code... :evil:

Also if I feel the need to visit a non-work safe site from work I use VNC, Windows remote desktop, or some other remote desktop application to tap into my home PC. No router tracelogs there...

[MickeyLumbo]

:( Don't tell me you actually view your job as a prison! I thought you loved your job.




oh i do love the job, but, we are micro-managed... leashed to the desk, can't surf the web (though i see it done all around me), can't use the cell phone, and heaven forbid it takes longer than six minutes to poop on your personal break. you just need to send an email and say dear susie, today i took 7 minutes to poop.


just have to learn to wait until the turtle is ready to start the race. LOL