Surfing the internet at work? No problem!

[The Big Bog]

I'm posting this here because I feel certain that none of us ever do this at our respective places of employment nor would we even consider such a thing since we all know that it's basically like stealing. You hear that? Getting the news or checking the weather while at work is theft I say ... THEFT!!!

:rolleyes:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Surfing the Web at work is equivalent to reading a newspaper or talking on the phone, an administrative law judge said in recommending the lightest possible punishment for a city worker accused of disregarding warnings to stay off the Internet.

The case involved Toquir Choudhri, a 14-year veteran of the Department of Education, whose office computer had been used to visit news and travel Web sites.

"It should be observed that the Internet has become the modern equivalent of a telephone or a daily newspaper, providing a combination of communication and information that most employees use as frequently in their personal lives as for their work," Administrative Law Judge John Spooner said in recommending only a reprimand for Choudhri.

The judge noted that city agencies allow workers to make personal calls if it doesn't interfere with their work performance.

...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/24/web.surf.ap/index.html

[::Major_Baker::]

what if we are on one site the whole time arguing about things largely beyond our control?
does that count?

[patrickt]

Is it a coincidence that forums seem more active Monday through Friday?

[The Big Bog]

what if we are on one site the whole time arguing about things largely beyond our control?
does that count?
That's just weird. Who would sit around and do something like that? Time to call the men in white coats I'd say. :whack:

[patrickt]

I would love to know if this administrative judge, or any administrative judge, has ever upheld a firing. Two police officers in Denver were drunk on duty, assaulted their supervisor, and, big surprise, firing them was far too harsh because they'd never been caught drunk on duty and assaulting their supervisor before.

[JD3]

Not only does my boss suggest I surf the net, he thinks I should get a TV for the office so I can keep up on current events. Having trouble getting the school to pay for it though. ;)

[Riddley]

It gets a bit complex when some jobs actually use the internet for real stuff not just banging away about things that they can't control (you OK Major? :flowers: ).

[AgentM]

It's a good thing that my choice of careers will not include using computers, or I'd be in trouble :).

[Craig]

People have been known to switch careers during their life Agent M. ;)

[ScummyD]

People have been known to switch careers during their life Agent M. ;)
Or not have careers at all, for that matter.

[AgentM]

People have been known to switch careers during their life Agent M. ;)

I'm not planning on it :). Could happen I suppose.

[Craig]

Or not have careers at all, for that matter.

Also very possible. I think most people probably don't have a "career".

[Riddley]

My career, careers all over the place.

[poly_nightmare]

Also very possible. I think most people probably don't have a "career".

I don't. :lol:

[Strel]

As long as the work gets done, the boss should not care.

On my advice, my employer doesn't keep track of what sites people visit. :lol: :devil:

But really, it is better from a liability standpoint to NOT know what your employees are up to on the Internet - in most circumstances.

[The Big Bog]

As long as the work gets done, the boss should not care.
Ah, but just think of all the things those employees could be doing in those spare minutes after that work is done--alphabetizing the supply cabinet, spell checking letters that went out three years ago, figuring out ways to make your fellow employees' lives miserable ...