Getting Fired for Disboard Surfing at Work?

[luvsJack]

First off, put yourself in the shoes of parents coming through a day care center for a tour where they might take their kids while they are off at work. Does seeing staff members texting on their phones, checking their facebook page, twitter, every few minutes while watching other peoples children really leave a good impression on the parents? I don't think so. Neither does it leave a good impression on the parents when they clearly see that a staff member is using the internet for non work purposes and shopping for clothing and or the latest accessories a good impression either? Nope.

Needless to say we do make sure that the person who drives the van to pick up kids from school or drop them off has a cell phone on them en route, the director, and co-director also have phones on them issued to them by us that are to be used in the event of an emergency. We also have a PA system built in the center as well with an intercom in each class room and a few scattered outside by the playground so that they are able to call into the office in the case of an emergency. On top of that we do have easy access emergency cards in both the office, and each classroom that the teachers are trained to take them out of the building in the event of a fire along with 3 company issued cell phones. As far as emergencies for staff members on the job rather it be death in the family, family member in the hospital, and ect, family needs to call in to the office and then we will hand the land line phone off to them.

Ok, my mother and I ran a very successful child care center for 12 years. I am not trying to debate with you at all, of course a parent would be unhappy to walk in and find an employee texting or on the computer or anything that is taking their attention away from the children. That was why one of our rules was that they could not be on their cells during working hours unless it was an emergency, but we didn't take them from them. They kept them in their classrooms and had in them if needed. We never had an issue with it and it was much cheaper than having company issued cells. Not once in all our years did we ever have a parent complain about phone usuage nor did I ever catch an employee on their phone unnecessarily.

I just never treated my employees like they wouldn't follow a rule given to them. That seems like an awful lot of expense to go to when them having their own cells would work just as well.

 

[luvsJack]

I'd fire someone for excessive use of company time/property for personal business if it wasn't approved/discussed before-hand. Would I fire someone for checking their email or cellphone messages a few times a day? No. Would I fire that same person for replying to all the messages he receives everyday if they aren't an emergency or require immediate attention (and that doesn't include the guest list for Friday's happy hour, lol)? Yes. Do it on your own time.

The company is paying you to WORK for them and if they don't provide you with enough work to keep you busy for the hours you are scheduled, shame on them. God knows there are enough people out there willing to work for their salaries Unfortunately, where I work the employees barely have enough time to take a bathroom break outside of their lunch time. There is a fine line between enough work and too much work

FWIW, I'd also let the smoker go who has to have a cig break every 45 minutes. I watch the smokers (non nursing department, mostly management and business department personnel) in my building take a 10 minute break at least every hour, then bathroom breaks and a lunch break. In all, they are probably putting in 6 hours of work instead of 7 and yes, it does make a difference to those of us who are not leaving the desk for the same break. I'd let the person who surfs the web outside their normal (2) 10-minute breaks and lunch break go. I'd let the person who shows up 15 minutes late all the time go.

When I was a boss, I was tough but fair. Now I'm just a pee-on at the bottom of the totem pole but I don't abuse my employer. I work when I'm supposed to work and when my work is done, I help someone else catch up.

As one that said sometimes I don't have anything to do, I wanted to chime in here. In defense of the college I work for, its just the nature of the position I am in. I go from 0-90 day by day. Accrediation declares that my position exists but truthfully there isn't a lot of work that goes with it during certain times of the semester.

Now, starting mid-week next week that will change. End of term, registration, finals, etc will all be hitting at once. I will spend the week getting ready for registration, we will be off for two weeks and then we will come back and hit the ground running. It will stay that way for most of January and then slow down again.

As for helping others, its not really something that we can do. I don't mind helping and there are two other positions that I can most certainly do (moved up to my present position from them) but I would have to be in their office and using thier computer to do the work and that's not really helping them.

I am quite willing to work for my salary. Having been only one of two people in the college that received a raise this year, I have quite proven that.


I do agree though that there can certainly be an abuse of internet usuage. The employee whose work I was doing Friday will be reprimanded for not doing her work because of being on the internet all the time. It wasn't an issue that I was doing the work but it was a big issue when the dean found out it was not done. And because of her, I would imagine that we will all be watching our internet usuage in the weeks to come.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope, no question in my mind what she said and who she was talking about. I can pick her post apart again if you want, but I know, and you also probably know, that a clever wordsmith can effortlessly veil insults.

But for kicks, let's go ahead and do it. I will be placing emphasis on certain phrases and words she used with bolding.

- "Based on your descriptions and how you handle your employees, I suspect that your business (whatever it is) is staffed by minimum wage or underpaid workers"

Do you want to debate about whom she is talking? Do you doubt that the word "underpaid" means anything other than not paying an an employee enough, or not what they are due?

I think the fact that she quoted you made it apparent that she was referring to your policies. Still, everything she posted was opinions, guesses, "I suspect that" and other qualifiers, based on your explicitly-described policies.

She's basing her opinion of how you treat, value, and pay your employees based your own severe demeanor as expressed in the words you wrote ad. She's basing her opinion of how Bama values his employees based on the tone of his posts. Truly, any judgment here is based entirely on your presentation. You're the business owner. You set the rules.

But try going back and reading your original explanation of your policy entirely impartially - you're just a regular person, not a business owner, and you don't know the person who wrote that post. It's HARSH. You may be a great boss, but based on the tone of that post, you give the impression that you treat your office staff like children who can't be trusted. No, they shouldn't be using company equipment for personal business, on company time or not. You're 100% right. But please try reading the post where you told us your policy as if you were an outsider - or, even better, as if you were a job candidate that your company really wanted to employ. What impression would that candidate get of your company based on the tone of your description of your internet usage policy? Not the policy - again, your company, your rules.

 

[js]

Agreeing that both are bad, what is the lesser evil of the two:

1. Going on dis multiple times a day. Closing out, opening again at another time and repeating throughout the day
or
2. Going onto dis and minimizing the screen and just going on it when you want and then minimizing so you log into it once?

I'm on dis and cruisecritic at work and although we are extremely busy I always find time to check things out but this means going on multiple times a day.

Thanks to all!

BTW, I saw this post at work and wanted to ask the question but decided I should wait until I got home LOL
Thanks.

Anyone? Thanks.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Anyone? Thanks.

In most cases, multiple site hits is worse. Depends on how the company is tracking usage.

 

[js]

In most cases, multiple site hits is worse. Depends on how the company is tracking usage.

Thanks! That's what I'll go with for now

 

[Lauralee]

I think the fact that she quoted you made it apparent that she was referring to your policies. Still, everything she posted was opinions, guesses, "I suspect that" and other qualifiers, based on your explicitly-described policies.

She's basing her opinion of how you treat, value, and pay your employees based your own severe demeanor as expressed in the words you wrote ad. She's basing her opinion of how Bama values his employees based on the tone of his posts. Truly, any judgment here is based entirely on your presentation. You're the business owner. You set the rules.

But try going back and reading your original explanation of your policy entirely impartially - you're just a regular person, not a business owner, and you don't know the person who wrote that post. It's HARSH. You may be a great boss, but based on the tone of that post, you give the impression that you treat your office staff like children who can't be trusted. No, they shouldn't be using company equipment for personal business, on company time or not. You're 100% right. But please try reading the post where you told us your policy as if you were an outsider - or, even better, as if you were a job candidate that your company really wanted to employ. What impression would that candidate get of your company based on the tone of your description of your internet usage policy? Not the policy - again, your company, your rules.

I've gone back and read my posts. So our policies seem harsh? I seemed harsh? Maybe she and a few other posters misinterpreted my serious demeanor as being harsh. Maybe if I had whined a bit or revealed a few more personal details about what happened I might not have come off as being harsh? Maybe I should have mentioned sooner that in the past we were lenient, didn't have an internet usage policy. As I have already said many, many times, it wasn't until several employees took advantage of this leniency that we had take this hard stand. Oh, I guess "hard stand" sounds harsh.

I felt it was irrelevant to my post to have to explain what kind of business we have, how much we pay our employees, or explain that in fact, we really really value them, but gosh darn, these people put our backs up to the wall. Maybe I should have taken the "try to get sympathy" angle. It's too bad that some DIS'ers feel it's ok to "read between the lines" of my posts or put words in my mouth.

Since you mentioned Bama's posts, maybe I should have come on here and lambasted him for his superior attitude, about how harsh he came off to me, that he acted judgmental about my employee problem comparing us with his "never in his career of managing a thousand employees would he ever fire people for spending time doing personal tasks on the internet on company time." Maybe I should have asked him to think about it or mull it over during the holidays.

I'm not confrontational that way, or would think it's funny, or think I need to lecture people on the DIS boards.

I'm sorry, but I don't take seriously the angle you are now taking about how I would come off as being harsh to a job applicant. Seriously? Is it good business practice? We've never had any problem with just casually telling them we have policy handbook, give them a copy to read, and ask them to let us know if they have any questions.

I initially chose to post on this thread to seriously share an employer's point of view on this subject. I stated that this issue is a hot button with me. It's too bad that the other employer who posted her experiences and her company policies also received a confrontational response here.

I have nothing more constructive to say to you or the PP you are referring to, about her unsubstantiated opinions about how much we pay our employees, etc., as her confrontational post has been deleted.

I do want to apologize in advance to any DIS'ers who may think that THIS post is harsh. That is not my intention...I'm simply being very serious. I've learned a big lesson here today......I'll never discuss business or any other serious topic here again. I'll play it safe and maybe post my yummy Christmas cookie recipe.

Too bad the DIS doesn't offer a "serious" smiley. I would have used it.

 

[mrodgers]

Thanks! That's what I'll go with for now

I don't think there are any ads here that continuously update, but let it be a warning, some sites and forums do have an ad rotation and will conduct network activity every few minutes if it is just minimized and left alone. Those sites will generate more activity than reopening the site if you check once per hour every hour.

As for my work, I don't get a lunch break, depending on what equipment I am working with at the time. I could force it if I wanted too, but then I would get nothing done because of equipment shutdown and restart. That would eat up way too much time in an 8 hour period. I work daylight and work in the same general area with a production crew of 1 per shift, 4 shifts rotating 12 hours. Those 4 people also do not get lunch breaks. As such, and because their jobs require them to monitor near the equipment for the hour and a half cycle time, they are allowed to surf the internet, read books, read magazines, etc. They can't do other work because they have to stay near the equipment.

On the other side of the plant, those people are continuously physically running their equipment and get relieved for lunch breaks as well as smoke breaks.

 

[cm8]

I've gone back and read my posts. So our policies seem harsh? I seemed harsh? Maybe she and a few other posters misinterpreted my serious demeanor as being harsh. Maybe if I had whined a bit or revealed a few more personal details about what happened I might not have come off as being harsh? Maybe I should have mentioned sooner that in the past we were lenient, didn't have an internet usage policy. As I have already said many, many times, it wasn't until several employees took advantage of this leniency that we had take this hard stand. Oh, I guess "hard stand" sounds harsh.

I felt it was irrelevant to my post to have to explain what kind of business we have, how much we pay our employees, or explain that in fact, we really really value them, but gosh darn, these people put our backs up to the wall. Maybe I should have taken the "try to get sympathy" angle. It's too bad that some DIS'ers feel it's ok to "read between the lines" of my posts or put words in my mouth.

Since you mentioned Bama's posts, maybe I should have come on here and lambasted him for his superior attitude, about how harsh he came off to me, that he acted judgmental about my employee problem comparing us with his "never in his career of managing a thousand employees would he ever fire people for spending time doing personal tasks on the internet on company time." Maybe I should have asked him to think about it or mull it over during the holidays.

I'm not confrontational that way, or would think it's funny, or think I need to lecture people on the DIS boards.

I'm sorry, but I don't take seriously the angle you are now taking about how I would come off as being harsh to a job applicant. Seriously? Is it good business practice? We've never had any problem with just casually telling them we have policy handbook, give them a copy to read, and ask them to let us know if they have any questions.

I initially chose to post on this thread to seriously share an employer's point of view on this subject. I stated that this issue is a hot button with me. It's too bad that the other employer who posted her experiences and her company policies also received a confrontational response here.

I have nothing more constructive to say to you or the PP you are referring to, about her unsubstantiated opinions about how much we pay our employees, etc., as her confrontational post has been deleted.

I do want to apologize in advance to any DIS'ers who may think that THIS post is harsh. That is not my intention...I'm simply being very serious. I've learned a big lesson here today......I'll never discuss business or any other serious topic here again. I'll play it safe and maybe post my yummy Christmas cookie recipe.

Too bad the DIS doesn't offer a "serious" smiley. I would have used it.[/QUOTE]

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've gone back and read my posts. So our policies seem harsh?

No, not at ALL, and I'm not sure why I'm having trouble making that clear. Your policies are reasonable. They make sense. It's your company. Frankly, even if your rules for internet usage didn't make sense, it's still your company.

Again, if you go back and read the post where you explained these rules, the way you stated them came across as very harsh. Very blunt. Very - frankly - uncaring. I, as an impartial reader, can see why anyone would get the impression you care more about the rules being followed than about the people who work for you.

You could be the most caring, compassionate boss in the country. Truly. But it doesn't sound that way from the severe tone of your writing - and I think that's why that other poster got the impression DisneyBamaFan's "cogs" are more valuable and irreplaceable to him than yours are to you.

It's all about how you express yourself - how anybody does. Again, I think your internet usage ban at work makes absolute sense. My employer is paying me to work. While some of my work does require both intranet and internet research, they're NOT paying me to, for example, try to get a laptop computer as one of Amazon's lightning deals on Black Friday (which is why I'm happy I work second shift but I digress.

It's not what you said, it's just how you said it.

 

[pearlieq]

Now I'm just a pee-on at the bottom of the totem pole

No one is that low on the totem pole! Not even the peons.

 

[Lauralee]

No, not at ALL, and I'm not sure why I'm having trouble making that clear. Your policies are reasonable. They make sense. It's your company. Frankly, even if your rules for internet usage didn't make sense, it's still your company.

Again, if you go back and read the post where you explained these rules, the way you stated them came across as very harsh. Very blunt. Very - frankly - uncaring. I, as an impartial reader, can see why anyone would get the impression you care more about the rules being followed than about the people who work for you.

You could be the most caring, compassionate boss in the country. Truly. But it doesn't sound that way from the severe tone of your writing - and I think that's why that other poster got the impression DisneyBamaFan's "cogs" are more valuable and irreplaceable to him than yours are to you.

It's all about how you express yourself - how anybody does. Again, I think your internet usage ban at work makes absolute sense. My employer is paying me to work. While some of my work does require both intranet and internet research, they're NOT paying me to, for example, try to get a laptop computer as one of Amazon's lightning deals on Black Friday (which is why I'm happy I work second shift but I digress.

It's not what you said, it's just how you said it.

Oh my gosh....ya just can't leave this alone? Yes, you have made it very clear that you think the tone of my posts regarding this very serious (to me) issue bother you.

What do you want me to do? Are you just trying to get in the last word on the subject?

I said in my PP that I have nothing more constructive to say to you about it, so this post isn't really constructive, but what can I do for you?

If you think you can help me learn how to post less harshly, less severely, less whatever, I'm free on Tuesday nights from 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. if you have the time.....maybe we can arrange a few online sessions of free tutoring?

PS: I'm keeping my promise of not posting anything serious here again, so I guess this isn't a really serious request.