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RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 3:44:05 AM   
SL4V3M4YB3


Posts: 3506
Joined: 12/20/2007
From: S.E. London U.K.
Status: offline 		The ITiots need to prove their purpose every so often, never trust the ITiots.

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Profile   Post #: 61
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 4:04:29 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

I work with a group of 3 others and we analyze data all day. Day in, day out, we are looking at thousands upon thousands of lines of data, upwards of 10 hours (or more) a day. The human error rate increases the more tired we get. We have to take frequent "look away" breaks or we would be playing hell trying to correct those errors. About every 45 minutes to an hour, we step away for 5-10 minutes, just to refresh our minds and our vision. Be it a phone call, a quick IM exchange, a walk outside, chatting and laughing together - whatever it may be - we return to our spreadsheets refreshed and ready to dive in again. What you consider fraud, we (and our employer) consider self preservation and preventing burn out.



Having a break from the PC, is enshrined in Health & Safety regulations over here; it's expected, though this doesn't provide a mandate for private phone calls and using the business' assets for personal use. The idea of having a break from the PC is for the benefit of your eyes; continued use of the PC in that 5 to 10 minutes by sending e-mails etc, is not in the spirit of the idea.

I suppose it's only fraud where the owners haven't sanctioned it. Not sure how your customers would feel, though, were they to realise they're paying for your private e-mails/phone calls and the like; I'm assuming all costs are passed on to the customer. It may seem minor, but in effect customers are paying a small portion of your mobile bill. Anyone coming up to me in the street: "alright, pal, 'fancy contributing toward my phone bill?".....while being rendered slightly amused, the possibility of them receiving a spot of cooperation, is fairly remote.

quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

It's all a matter of perspective, I suppose.



To an extent.

Any personal use of the owners' assets without their consent, is fraud. That is not perspective. They have paid for the goods in order to earn a return for their company - that is the bargain. The issue with customers is not so clear cut, but it's highly unethical to pass on the costs of employees' leisure activities to them - unless of course they're aware and sanction it.

Hey, work is no walk in the park......it's meant to be a regime of terror :-)

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to NuevaVida)
Profile   Post #: 62
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 4:23:11 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

"We pay you for your performance, not your time." In other words, we received an annual salary for the work we would produce that year. It was up to us to determine our schedules, and we were always held accountable for our output.



This certainly is a matter of perspective.

I think it's a mistake to measure performance solely on output/effectiveness; there are other factors that are integral to a sustainable operation.

To illustrate, you may be producing top class reports, but where you're solely being measured on output/effectiveness, how could your boss possibly be aware of whether or not there is an opportunity to produce these reports in less time? perhaps your boss could get two top quality reports in the same time period as it is taking to produce one? through new methods or more innovative use of technology, or the use of new technology even.

A business that solely concentrates on output, will miss an opportunity to extract more from its resources; there should never be an assumption that an individual is being 100% efficient because we all produce a certain amount of waste, and it follows thus there is always room for improving our efficiency.

I'd go as far to say that a business concentrating on effectiveness and taking its eye off efficiency and economy, is storing up problems in an ultra competitve environment. 

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to NuevaVida)
Profile   Post #: 63
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 4:50:01 AM   
ScooterTrash


Posts: 1407
Joined: 1/24/2005
From: Indiana
Status: offline 		Never happened, actually couldn't happen. Our entire network of roughly 250 computers is firewalled, so even at lunch there is no way to access CM or similar sites from a networked computer. It gets in the way in a lot of cases though, since it reacts to keywords. If you try looking up "pneumatic air guns" or "head bolts" or a zillion other nilla subjects that just happen to use what the firewall determines is a possible BAD word...access is blocked. Kind of like an adult net-nanny....lol. Even portions of sites you can get to are blocked (the ads on MSN do not show up). I do have access to one of the three computers at work that do not run through the firewall (some places I have to get to for work reasons, require going around the firewall), but checking CM is not important enough to violate that trust.

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(in reply to SteelofUtah)
Profile   Post #: 64
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 6:55:43 AM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

Point taken.



Just a spot of friendly advice, GT!


:D

I admit, I am at work now.  But THERE IS NOTHING TO DO!!  The phone isnt ringing, nobody is waiting to check in, I've done the credit card pre-auths, vacuumed the entry carpets, wiped down the counters, had a long, lovely chat with the production mgr for the bands that are coming in tomorrow, pulled breakfast goodies out of the freezer to thaw, walked around the building to see if any exterior lights are burned out..

There is nothing to do now, except be HERE....LOL



You work in a service industry, GT, where customer service is everything. Go and have a chat with the guests; make sure they're settling in ok, and that they have everything they need; better still, have a think about how the hotel can improve its guests to rooms ratio and hand your boss some ideas. Whatever happened to the principles of a boss having his 'pound of flesh'!?


NG.. during the evenings, when I work, most of the guests have gone to their rooms.. I am NOT going to go knocking on the doors ....lol  I am always at the desk, so if they need something I am available.  We're whats called a limited service hotel - no restaurant, gift shop or bar, so generally the guests don't congregate in the lobby. When they ARE in the lobby (and if they are inclined) I do interact with them.

As far as ideas to put to the boss? I do that.  But the owner is disinclined to spend any more money than he needs to, so the suggestions I offer generally fall on deaf ears.  I offer anyway (and a few of them actually HAVE been implemented!! YAY ME!!).  KNowing my boss though, makes me have to really sit back and weigh the pro/con aspect of anything I come up with.


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polysnortatious
Supreme Goddess of Snark
CHARTER MEMBER: Lance's Fag Hags!
Waiting for my madman in a Blue Box.

(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 65
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 9:05:58 AM   
zakkan


Posts: 606
Joined: 4/15/2008
Status: offline 		Since I am still studying, I only worked during the summer. And I worked as a cashier in a tourist shop smaller than my room. Less than 10 customers on an average day.

There are only so many things to do. And they can all be completed in a hour. And I am sure not going to dust every item every minute of the day.

Now there is a computer there, so what should I do to save myself from dying?

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Silence! I keel you!

(in reply to GreedyTop)
Profile   Post #: 66
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 9:21:26 AM   
NuevaVida


Posts: 6707
Joined: 8/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Having a break from the PC, is enshrined in Health & Safety regulations over here; it's expected, though this doesn't provide a mandate for private phone calls and using the business' assets for personal use. The idea of having a break from the PC is for the benefit of your eyes; continued use of the PC in that 5 to 10 minutes by sending e-mails etc, is not in the spirit of the idea.


This is where we're talking about different things, then. The break I'm speaking of is for the mind as well as the eyes. If diverting the eyes from lines of data, budget figures, coding, etc., over to one's personal email, then that can be quite a mind diversion and just enough for people to take a breath and get back to work with a happier attitude. A happy employee is a good employee.

quote:


I suppose it's only fraud where the owners haven't sanctioned it. Not sure how your customers would feel, though, were they to realise they're paying for your private e-mails/phone calls and the like; I'm assuming all costs are passed on to the customer. It may seem minor, but in effect customers are paying a small portion of your mobile bill. Anyone coming up to me in the street: "alright, pal, 'fancy contributing toward my phone bill?".....while being rendered slightly amused, the possibility of them receiving a spot of cooperation, is fairly remote.


I honestly have never worked for an employer who didn't approve, nor would I. I have worked for employers whose customers trusted them to manage and operate their own budgets, and those budgets factored in the humanness of the people who worked for them.

One particular employer comes to mind - a software company who was one of the first to create an EHR (electronic health record) system. We had programmers from all over the world working there, who literally worked around the clock to meet deadlines for our customers - large hospital organizations, the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The HR manager was upset because the phone bill reflected calls to the Ukraine. When she complained to the CEO about it, he said "Those people are busting their asses to make sure we meet our contract deadlines. The least we can do is allow them to talk to their families overseas when they are here at 2:00 in the morning. If it makes them happy to talk to their spouses and kids, then let them - they work hard and they are happy here, and they're putting out fantastic work." Basically, the run rate for employing them was still extremely positive.

The turnover rate at that place was next to nill. Other items factored into the budget - a refrigerator filled with refreshments, snacks, real cream for the coffee, etc. Employees felt respected, valued, and taken care of. The return for that was phenomenal.


quote:


Any personal use of the owners' assets without their consent, is fraud. That is not perspective. They have paid for the goods in order to earn a return for their company - that is the bargain. The issue with customers is not so clear cut, but it's highly unethical to pass on the costs of employees' leisure activities to them - unless of course they're aware and sanction it.

True. Which is why I won't work for a place who doesn't support that I am a human being with a life of my own, and that I'm balancing life and work to the best of my ability, and my work speaks for itself. Look what happened with the blue suits of IBM when they treated their staff as robotic non-humans. Their turnover was high, their employees were stressed and unhappy, and they ultimately had to change their ways.

quote:


Hey, work is no walk in the park......it's meant to be a regime of terror :-)

LOL. I agree it is no walk in the park part. But there is no reason people can't be happy doing what they're doing. The benefits of keeping them happy is huge. The places I've worked have factored these "perks" into their budget and it's paid off.



_____________________________

Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.



(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 67
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 9:27:01 AM   
NuevaVida


Posts: 6707
Joined: 8/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

To illustrate, you may be producing top class reports, but where you're solely being measured on output/effectiveness, how could your boss possibly be aware of whether or not there is an opportunity to produce these reports in less time? perhaps your boss could get two top quality reports in the same time period as it is taking to produce one? through new methods or more innovative use of technology, or the use of new technology even.

A business that solely concentrates on output, will miss an opportunity to extract more from its resources; there should never be an assumption that an individual is being 100% efficient because we all produce a certain amount of waste, and it follows thus there is always room for improving our efficiency.

I'd go as far to say that a business concentrating on effectiveness and taking its eye off efficiency and economy, is storing up problems in an ultra competitve environment. 


"Do more with less."

That was something a former Regional CEO I worked for often pushed. And trust me, he pushed...and pushed...and pushed. There was always a way to do more, faster. And he was right. But in the long run, was this the best standard of operation? The turnover rate soared, employees weren't proud of where they worked and talked poorly about the company outside of work. In fact, there was an AOL chat room (back when AOL chat rooms just started out) solely about the organization, and hundreds would post to it daily to berate the company, which ended up with a bad name in the community, such that the top brass from the corporate office began hosting discussion groups in there, to understand the employee's concerns and address them. The Regional CEO was moved out of there, because the place had become so gloomy and no one wanted to work there anymore.

But hey, he did more with less. And ended up with lesser still.

I remain convinced that reaching a balance is best. The more committed your employees are, the more they will work and the more loyal they will be to your organization. Case in point, I'm going back to the office this afternoon just to help meet deadline. I'm not required to - I want to, because I love the people I'm doing it for. They treat me well. They value me as a person as well as an employee. And for that I'll give my all and then some.

And I'll probably check my email while I'm there. :)

_____________________________

Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.



(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 68
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 9:28:27 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

I am NOT going to go knocking on the doors ....lol 



What about putting a wig on and giving them a spot of Gloria Gaynor first thing in the morning?



_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to GreedyTop)
Profile   Post #: 69
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 9:35:20 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

I remain convinced that reaching a balance is best.



Completely agreed.

'Looks like my attempt to instill a regime of terror across the world is gaining no ground whatsoever, so I'll knock it on the head :-)

Not before one last parting shot, though. It's possible to strike a balance and seek to increase efficiency. I fully agree with your sentiment that you have to keep your employees happy; introducing innovative working methods can help do the trick.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to NuevaVida)
Profile   Post #: 70
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 10:07:20 AM   
NuevaVida


Posts: 6707
Joined: 8/5/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

'Looks like my attempt to instill a regime of terror across the world is gaining no ground whatsoever, so I'll knock it on the head :-)




quote:


Not before one last parting shot, though. It's possible to strike a balance and seek to increase efficiency. I fully agree with your sentiment that you have to keep your employees happy; introducing innovative working methods can help do the trick.


We completely agree here. And it can very well be that different companies have different ways of striking this balance. My views are skewed by my own previous experiences, which were quite good.

Thanks for the discussion!

_____________________________

Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.



(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 71
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 11:37:54 AM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida


quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

'Looks like my attempt to instill a regime of terror across the world is gaining no ground whatsoever, so I'll knock it on the head :-)




quote:


Not before one last parting shot, though. It's possible to strike a balance and seek to increase efficiency. I fully agree with your sentiment that you have to keep your employees happy; introducing innovative working methods can help do the trick.


We completely agree here. And it can very well be that different companies have different ways of striking this balance. My views are skewed by my own previous experiences, which were quite good.

Thanks for the discussion!


A pleasure.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to NuevaVida)
Profile   Post #: 72
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 12:19:44 PM   
Marc2b


Posts: 6660
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline
quote:

When you price your products, do you take into account employee salaries as per any business with a modicum of nous?

If the answer is yes, I'm sure your customers will be over the moon to learn they're paying for your leisure activities.


Well, 90% of what we sell is commissioned; while we have input, it is the artist/craftsman who ultimately sets the price, not us.  Also, I am salaried and average over 40 hours some weeks (especially during the holiday season), so I don’t think it is really the customers business what I do during break times.  Incidentally, I’m at work right now (a Saturday, 3:15pm), taking a break from making final preparations for the opening reception of a new art show (during which I will also be working at tonight).  If all the art patrons out there wouldn’t be keen on the fact that I am using my break time to talk to a bald headed Brit on a BDSM web site about economics and ethics (what a strange world this has become) – then tough shit on them.  My company (partially, at least) my office, my computer, my time!

quote:

The right eh? Full of personal responsibility sound-bites, short on 'practice what you preach'.


Who the Hell you calling “right” bucko?  I am an independent stuck between two parties.  One that gets it right on social issues but wrong on economics (more or less) and another that gets it right on economics but wrong on social issues (more or less).  Sigh.

Oh well, break time’s over – back to work.

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Do you know what the most awesome thing about being an Atheist is? You're not required to hate anybody!

(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 73
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 2:00:31 PM   
NorthernGent


Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
Status: offline 		So, the answer is: no.

The best news I've heard all day, Marc.

I'll call off my fraud mob who are busy 'running round armed with pitchforks and torches......

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to Marc2b)
Profile   Post #: 74
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 3:20:51 PM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		I will not take the chance while on the job.  When mum was here for a while that was quite awkward and I am grateful that without her bifocals on she cannot see the computer screen well.

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to SteelofUtah)
Profile   Post #: 75
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 3:24:13 PM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		So football games and porn in the employee break room?            
 
Free tickets to strip clubs and discounts for frequent shoppers at the Adult Toy Store?            




quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

I remain convinced that reaching a balance is best.



Completely agreed.

'Looks like my attempt to instill a regime of terror across the world is gaining no ground whatsoever, so I'll knock it on the head :-)

Not before one last parting shot, though. It's possible to strike a balance and seek to increase efficiency. I fully agree with your sentiment that you have to keep your employees happy; introducing innovative working methods can help do the trick.


_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 76
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 6:11:56 PM   
sklavinxandria


Posts: 61
Joined: 12/26/2004
From: Nebraska
Status: offline
Well, don't get onto CM at work, the non-profit i work for, kinda into the whole God and good deeds things, esp this time of year.  i do..however look at a different kind of porn at the work computer.   tastespotting.com  i even admitted to the boss that i look at food porn at work! they laughed...so food porn is okie.


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Profile   Post #: 77
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 6:27:03 PM   
servantforuse


Posts: 6363
Joined: 3/8/2006
Status: offline 		If you were an employee of at&t and on 'collarme', you would be fired on the spot. They moniter every computer and have a zero tolerance policy.

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Profile   Post #: 78
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/22/2008 8:21:23 PM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

I am NOT going to go knocking on the doors ....lol 



What about putting a wig on and giving them a spot of Gloria Gaynor first thing in the morning?




Yeah.. with my singing voice.. THAT would score points  *snort*  The idea is to KEEP the guests coming back!!


_____________________________

polysnortatious
Supreme Goddess of Snark
CHARTER MEMBER: Lance's Fag Hags!
Waiting for my madman in a Blue Box.

(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 79
RE: !!BUSTED!! Checking CollarMe at work - 11/24/2008 6:26:16 PM   
Marc2b


Posts: 6660
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline 		[quite] So, the answer is: no.

The best news I've heard all day, Marc.

I'll call off my fraud mob who are busy 'running round armed with pitchforks and torches...... [/quote]

Actually the answer is yes since prices must reflect all expenses plus profit, otherwise you don't stay in business long – but, yes, by all means call off the pitchfork and torch wielding mob.  In the grand scheme of things somebody spending twenty minutes of their work day on Collarme just doesn’t match up with, let us say, taking billions of dollars from the government to save your sorry ass and then celebrating in a luxury spa.  Send the mob after them bastards! 

Every company has its’ own rules and regulations.  Employees can either abide by them or not.

_____________________________

Do you know what the most awesome thing about being an Atheist is? You're not required to hate anybody!

(in reply to NorthernGent)
Profile   Post #: 80
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