Good news for those like me who try to pass themselves off as useful, productive workers when, in fact, they are not..a judge has ruled that people can't be fired for goofing off on the internet while on company time:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060424/ap_on_hi_te/internet_surfing

Saying surfing the web is equivalent to reading a newspaper or talking on the phone, an administrative law judge has suggested that only a reprimand is appropriate as punishment for a city worker accused of failing to heed warnings to stay off the Internet.
Thats fine. But what happens the second time people are caught surfing the net? I have no problem with people getting online on their time (such as breaks, lunch), but dont do it on my time.

If we are to treat web surfing as equivalent to reading newspaper or excessive talking on the phone, then it can and will be an offense you can get fired for. Its happened before. Besides, if the employee is competent in the least, you will give them a warning or two before termination.

Thats fine. But what happens the second time people are caught surfing the net? I have no problem with people getting online on their time (such as breaks, lunch), but dont do it on my time.

If we are to treat web surfing as equivalent to reading newspaper or excessive talking on the phone, then it can and will be an offense you can get fired for. Its happened before. Besides, if the employee is competent in the least, you will give them a warning or two before termination.

Very reasonable HaVoK :)

The argument falls apart on two points.

Point #1. When is the surfing being done? Is it being done during break time, during lunch, when the surfer is supposed to be working?

Point #2. Unlike a newspaper or book, the computer belongs to the company, not the individual and it is the company that sets the rules as to its use.

While occassional web surfing during work hours may not be harmful to an employee's performance, and there is no evidence it isn't since only a finite amount of work can be done in a finite amount of time and doing things other than working lessens that time, the rule no harm, no foul should be followed. However, if an employer repeatedly warns an employee to not surf the web during work hours and the employee ignores those warnings, the employer should have the right to fire the person.

However, if an employer repeatedly warns an employee to not surf the web during work hours and the employee ignores those warnings, the employer should have the right to fire the person.

Exactly. If your employer tells you to stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, then you better stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, no matter how moronic the demand is.

I think I heard somewhere that this was a union worker, however, which would mean that there's a contact somewhere that largely makes common sense irrelevant.

Exactly. If your employer tells you to stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, then you better stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, no matter how moronic the demand is.


I agree on this one ... it may not be right but it's reality.

Exactly. If your employer tells you to stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, then you better stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, no matter how moronic the demand is.

This is why I am not a career man.

Nooooooo! That's not why you aren't a career man, Nappy. You aren't a career man because you are lazy and give up too easily. You ae like water and always take the path of least resistance.:cat:

Nooooooo! That's not why you aren't a career man, Nappy. You aren't a career man because you are lazy and give up too easily. You ae like water and always take the path of least resistance.:cat:

No, it's because he's so much smarter than the rest of us!

Exactly. If your employer tells you to stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, then you better stop wearing blue shoelaces to work, no matter how moronic the demand is.

Nooooooo! That's not why you aren't a career man, Nappy. You aren't a career man because you are lazy and give up too easily. You ae like water and always take the path of least resistance.

No, it's because he's so much smarter than the rest of us!

It is all of these things. None of them make any of the others untrue.

This is completely stupid. No matter how much I could gain and enjoy from this ruling its complete and utter bullshit.

You just went up a few points in my estimation, quarter ton. You have taken the sane and reasoned stance even if the other would have benefitted you.