Should I stop posting from work? - Page 4

katiesue · 08-12-2005, 09:24 AM

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 · 08-12-2005, 09:45 AM

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.

Moonliner · 09-28-2005, 04:24 AM

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...

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...

Ghoulish Delight · 08-12-2005, 09:53 AM

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 · 08-12-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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??"

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 · 08-12-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

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 · 09-27-2005, 10:51 AM

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 · 09-27-2005, 11:45 AM

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

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-27-2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyLumbo

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

LSPoorEeyorick · 09-27-2005, 05:43 PM

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!

08-12-2005, 09:24 AM	#1
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	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.
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08-12-2005, 09:45 AM	#2
Brigitte Whatcha doin'? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Loungin' with the kids Posts: 418	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.
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09-28-2005, 04:24 AM	#3
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	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... 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... __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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08-12-2005, 09:53 AM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	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). __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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09-27-2005, 10:51 AM	#7
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	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. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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09-27-2005, 11:45 AM	#8
MickeyLumbo thankfully grateful Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: shangrila Posts: 1,388	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 __________________
	Submit to Quotes

09-27-2005, 05:43 PM	#10
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	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!
	Submit to Quotes