Would you feel threatened if your boss told you this?

Question

We had a meeting, we got some new software isntalled that's going to monitor what do see on the internet, and how long. He says he's going to be reading those reports and telling in front of everyone what are we watching on the internet. I admit I waste some time on-line at work, but the main reason he's doing that is because some people here are looking at adult sites and nude pictures. I haven't really stopped checking out my non-work pages such as the local newpapaer sites, Garfield, Dilbert, some sports pages, and Yahoo Answers. I think we deserve a break from time to time. I've never EVER seen any adult material at work, so I think I shouldn't feel threatened by that software. If my boss says on the next meeting in front of everyone I read Dilbert, sports, and the newspaper, I don't think that should be a reason for him to get mad at me.

Should I feel threatened?

Answer 1

I wouldn't. If you know you aren't the one looking at nude photos, then you shouldn't feel threatened. Everyone deserves a little "down time" during the day. If they are that worried about what people are looking at, then they should not allow everyone to have internet access.

Answer 2

Companies can and do restrict personal use of their assets, and this includes their Internet connection. What your company has done is actually becoming the norm, with the exception of the "Hall of Shame" aspect of it - calling individuals' activities out in a meeting. All employee disciplinary action should be private and confidential, but then again they've warned you now.

You should not feel immediately threatened, but you should be mindful of the monitoring. Do not use the Internet at work for personal reasons until you've clarified what will or will not be tolerated. Browsing a news site or checking personal email during a legitimate break may be completely acceptable to them, just ask HR.

On a "brighter" note, I read a news article not long ago that reported how a judge ruled that personal use of the Internet at work was not valid grounds for dismissal of a government employee because the Internet has become the "new" newspaper and telephone. I'm sorry I don't still have the link, but I assure you it's a true news item.

Answer 3

Remember that you were hired to do a job! And if you spend any work time viewing web sites that are not work related you are not doing your job! No matter what site "it is"! Your boss wants to worn his employee's what is about to happen! Apparently employee's have become less productive, and are spending too much time doing other things, But the job they were hired to do!


Role Play:
Think about it this way!
You owned a company, and hire people to do a job.
One day you notice that the productivity of your company
was going down; more and more every week.
You catch some employee's using your business computers
for their own personal use!
You are paying them to do a job. That is "MONEY
WAISTED"!
Because the employee's are not as productive as they should
be.

Question:
How long will your company be around if this is happening?
Answer:
Not long! Because you are loosing money.

Correct? Incorrect?
Which one do you think is right?

It is a privilege to have a job.
Once you agree to do that job for X amount of $$, you must
fulfill your part of the "Legal contract"!
You are on the bosses "dime", not your own time.

Answer 4

Take aside the fact that your "personal" business may or may not be brought out to those you work with, bringing the feeling that your feeling violated. The fact that your at work, on your companys time and computer, that could threatened your job. I have employees, I don't mind some down time, but that's my call. When those ppl are on my time, not theirs, then I expect them to be working. That is what they are getting paid for, not surfing the internet. I think your boss has the right to be mad. I have a program kind of like the one your talking about on my computers. I use it to watch what my children are doing on here. I told them that I was doing this, if they didn't want me to see what they were doing, then they can stay off the internet. Same applies here....if you don't want ppl seeing or hearing about what your doing on the internet, save ur surfing for at home.

Answer 5

Lots of companies are doing this - some companies have a "no tolerance' policy of being on the internet at all - some lock you out except for business sites.

Abuse runs rampid. I wouldn't worry about being on for a little while. Typically the company will allow a little time - because you do get breaks and you do get a lunch break.....and if you got your hand slapped "in front of someone", the sites you're on are harmless - so who cares. I don't think the boss will be announcing rinky-dink sites - they typically are looking for people on porn sites or people doing business on e-bay, etc.

Chill out - it's business today.... when I was young and starting out in an office, they used to 'count' how many pieces of paper that were in our trash basket. They counted erasures on carbon copies (to see how accurate you were). Technology has just changed how the companies monitor - but they always have - in one way or another.

Answer 6

No, you should not fee threatened. It is called the companys systems and the company's property. The company has the right to say that "personal" business cannot be done on their systems and or using their property (computers included) for personal reasons. Most companies do this...

I find it wrong, however that it be announced at the staff meeting. This should be a private conversation between the manager and the offending person.

some places you can be terminated for doing this. Be thankful you were heeded the warning. Now, no personal stuff.

Answer 7

Absolutely not!
If asked why Dilbert, etc. tell him because it takes up very little of company time and relieves a great deal of stress for you as an employee. By the way, There should be a certain amount of time allotted to surfing the web for personal searching and reading!

Answer 8

You shouldn't be using the computer for pleasure on company time OR reading the newspaper. When people do that , they are adding to someone else's workload that prefers to work.

Your boss is teaching everyone a lesson and those that are not doing what it is that they are supposed to be doing SHOULD feel threatened.

Answer 9

Depends on how much time you take to do this and what type of position you are in. If you are in management and work long hours, it's no big deal. But if you are paid hourly and spending an hour a day fooling around online, then yes, you should worry.

Answer 10

No! It reads to me that your boss is an ****** Bigtime! Let his comments go in one ear and out the other. Absorb what he's saying and be professional but never take what people say to personally. I don't care who it is. The sh*t will eat you up inside!

When you feel overwhelmed just go into the ladies room, take a deep breath, look in the mirror and say "Why mess with perfection?" Laugh, breathe again, and return to you desk. The hell with that aggrevation! Take Care!