Feeling guilty using the internet at Work

[The Bandit]

Why is it some of us feel guilty using the internet for a FEW minutes each day, when guys/gals smoking waste more time? Why is smoking acceptable, and using the internet not(for us non-smokers)?
What about the people who do both.......

 

[Keebler Elf]

I blow A LOT of time at work on the internet. Probably around 2 hours a day. However, I still get all my work done (which, btw, happens to be a heck of a lot more than my coworkers). So I don't feel too guilty. Now, if I was surfing the net and not finishing my work, that would be a different story...

As far as I'm concerned, if EEs get their work done then ERs shouldn't care what they're doing with the rest of the time (so long as its not destructive to the company - i.e. downloading porn or stealing stuff).

 

[Meesh]

My advice is: use care and caution. Some companies are cracking down on acceptable use, time theft and theft of services (this could include unnecessary bandwidth and/or proxy usage.)

Accessing this particular board at many companies would not be 'acceptable use' and could result in termination.

 

[George OTJ]

Why is it some of us feel guilty using the internet for a FEW minutes each day, when guys/gals smoking waste more time? Why is smoking acceptable, and using the internet not(for us non-smokers)?
What about the people who do both.......

Depends on the job, but all smoke time is not wasted. When I take my smoke breaks,98% of the time I'm thinking through problems on my desk. I find getting up and walking around helps me; a lot better then just sitting at my desk staring at the screen while I think. It also can cut out a lot of the office noise distractions by getting away to think about things. The other 2% I'm talking with co-workers - often from different departments. So I don't know that that's a particular waste either. I've had a number of pleasent chats with the General Manger during my smoke breaks - of course I do have to be a little careful what I say because his older brother is the CEO and principle owner of the company. Never hurts to smooze a little with the big guys.

 

[BigBlack]

I check and occasionally trade stocks and do other things throughout the day. Without the internet that would be impossible. Like you said, as long as the work is done it shouldn't matter.

The problem is...it's tough to get a good reputation as a hard worker , but very easy to get a bad one as a lazy ass. Perception is everything. Getting caught on the net a few times can spell disaster...

BBLACK

 

[ycghiydvo]

A large portion of my job involves the Internet, so being on it and at any given site can be explained away... How I love academia...

 

[BigBlack]

A large portion of my job involves the Internet, so being on it and at any given site can be explained away... How I love academia...

How would you explain away Terb /mp/sp/porn sites for years and years. Extended research? lol

BBLACK

 

[shack]

I blow A LOT of time at work on the internet. Probably around 2 hours a day. However, I still get all my work done (which, btw, happens to be a heck of a lot more than my coworkers).

As an employer, I would ask if you get paid by the hour or by the job. If it's by the job or task no one could argue with you. If it's by the hour then your time belongs to your employer as long as you're getting paid for it and as such if you're wasting 2 hours a day of company time then you're ripping off the company. Whether you do more or less than your co-workers is irrelevant, it just means they're ripping off the company more.

Keebler, I assume you do good work and take pride in your job, but if your employer came to you with this argument I don't really think you have a defense.

 

[bimmers]

We also need to consider that using the net at work could be saving your employer money. You're able to do your banking instead of taking off for a half hour to an hour to go to the bank. You're now able to take a few moments to do your grocery shopping instead of having to leave an hour early to get it done before picking the kids up from daycare.

Reading the newspaper at work (business section, news etc) is an acceptable and often expected practice for me. Doing it on the web saves my employer having to subscribe. etc etc

Ultimately, it depends on both the job that you're expected to do, how you're paid (hourly vs. salary vs commission), your quality and quantity of work and your level of responsibility using the priviledge. I'm probably on the Internet 3-5 hours a day at work but most of it is work related and I tend to work 10 to 12 hour days.

BTW our proxy server at work blocks TERB lol

 

[Cosine]

Here's an anonymous way to read terb from work: If you are running XP, use Remote Desktop Connection to log on to your home machine and surf from there.