Give and take at work

HeavyHeaded

So I work in an office where everyone uses the internet at some point of the day. I also would say I use it every day. Never when there is work to do but I have some down time after lunch around 3-4pm or when I'm waiting to hear back from colleauges. My hours are also 9-5 but I always get held back until 6 every day with issues or helping out. (Nothing that could be done in my down time might I add these are issues stopped on end of day reports)
Today we were all told that if anyone uses the internet on working hours that it will be blocked. Nothing about them wanting us to do extra work on my hours every day though. I have missed training some nights because of work.
I feel frustrated as I am an excellent worker, I do my work on time and would never "doss" when there is work to do. I prefer to be busy. Is this the norm or are they taking advantage a bit?

Different workplaces have different attitudes and policies. There isn't much you can do about it.

If you are consistently working late use the downtime to come up with solutions?

callaway92

Taking something like casual internet away from employees could lead to a backlash. I'm so comfortable having access at work now that I'd absolutely crack up if it was taken away from us. Why would they rock the boat if things are running smoothly in the place as it is?

campo

Sounds like some could be taking advantage, it's happened to me in a number of jobs so I would say it is the norm.

Regards the extra hour you at end of the day do they pay you OT for this and if not I would be using the downtime to come up with a solution that would mean you get away at 5, maybe starting end of shift reports during the down time

Irish_Elect_Eng

Do you need the internet to do your day to day job? If not then your employer is right.

If you have regular work to do after the EOB reports are run, then consider shifting your hours to start and finish an hour later.

Whether it is using the internet, stealing office supplies, taking long fag breaks, time spent chatting, etc. you have to know the invisible line in the sand that exists in your workplace. Most companies turn a blind eye to a certain amount of non-productive behavior as it greases the wheels and keeps folks a little happier.

But there are always a few folks that take the piss and policies get tightened and everybody loses out. Fighting against this is a waste of time and will only flag you as a trouble maker and a high frequency internet user :-(.

Now that company policy has been clarified, getting caught using the internet for non-work tasks is probably a disciplinary event, be smart and don't be that guy that gets made an example of. Remember, the company has a full record of every site you visit and can easily set up a filter to report anybody that visits social, non-business or other sites.

Work-Around: Use your own phone for personal internet access in your own time during breaks.

davo10

Are you using your phone or company terminal? If it's your phone while you are on a break then it's none of their business, it you are using their computer to surf the internet then the concern might be that inappropriate info might be downloaded/sent from their computers.

odyssey06

Ask them to define business hours... then work those hours not a second more or less. That seems to be what they want, no!?

davo10

odyssey06 wrote: »

Ask them to define business hours... then work those hours not a second more or less. That seems to be what they want, no!?

Those striving for mediocrity do only what is required.

cursai

davo10 wrote: »

Those striving for mediocrity do only what is required.

What's wrong with mediocrity? Not everyone is a special little snowflake.

davo10

cursai wrote: »

What's wrong with mediocrity? Not everyone is a special little snowflake.

Nothing at all. I suppose it depends on your perspective and ambition. Came across this article, I think it's pretty good.

https://www.google.ie/amp/www.inc.com/amp/71520.html

odyssey06

davo10 wrote: »

Those striving for mediocrity do only what is required.

Spending more time than is warranted or required is not a sign of excellence.

But I fear we digress.

dresden8

davo10 wrote: »

Those striving for mediocrity do only what is required.

Anybody who works for free is a fool.

davo10

odyssey06 wrote: »

Spending more time than is warranted or required is not a sign of excellence.

But I fear we digress.

You are absolutely correct. Any extra hours worked without benefit to the person working them is a fools errand. Again it depends on ambition and perspective.

Interesting guy interviewed on Matt Coopers show last week. He was the youngest partner in a global firm, I'm sorry I can't remember which one. He said he worked long hours, unpaid but he made sure he built up relationships with managers and clients that made him noticed, he said just working the hours was useless without some benefit to him. He said the relationships he built up far outweighed the monetary value of the extra hours.

I'd also be on the bandwagon of letting them know you're a tad unhappy about the blocking of the internet, and displaying this by simply arriving to, and leaving from, work at the hours specified.


(that said, although I don't work in an office, and never really have, I find it a little cringey that there are people who make a genuine effort to come in early and go home late 'to be noticed'. But that said, I like my own time and would never work for free for anyone but myself).

If you're staying late each day OP, just stop doing it. Them pulling the net is a sign that they don't care about you, so why should you care about them. When one party becomes selfish (management approach to 'work them harder') then everyone loses out (employee responds with 'well feck them if that's the attitude') etc.

davo10

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'd also be on the bandwagon of letting them know you're a tad unhappy about the blocking of the internet, and displaying this by simply arriving to, and leaving from, work at the hours specified.


(that said, although I don't work in an office, and never really have, I find it a little cringey that there are people who make a genuine effort to come in early and go home late 'to be noticed'. But that said, I like my own time and would never work for free for anyone but myself).

If you're staying late each day OP, just stop doing it. Them pulling the net is a sign that they don't care about you, so why should you care about them. When one party becomes selfish (management approach to 'work them harder') then everyone loses out (employee responds with 'well feck them if that's the attitude') etc.

Striving for mediocrity? Without being noticed makes it easier for those that are to advance.

"Cringey" to be noticed, seriously? How is anybody who wants to progress in their job supposed to do that, time served?

Back to the ops point, internet usage I reckon in this case depends on device, if it's the employers computer, then there may be a bone fide reason for curtailing it rather than a blanket ban on logging on to wifi.

davo10

davo10 wrote: »

Striving for mediocrity? Without being noticed makes it easier for those that are to advance.

"Cringey" to be noticed, seriously? How is anybody who wants to progress in their job supposed to do that, time served?

Back to the ops point, internet usage I reckon in this case depends on device, if it's the employers computer, then there may be a bone fide reason for curtailing it rather than a blanket ban on logging on to wifi.

If you do a good job, does it matter that you're there early and late?

If someone really wants to advance in a role/company/whatever, and they want to give up all their time for free to a company, let them at it. I'm pretty sure just being more productive during the working day would suffice, though.

As for me, mediocrity is just fine. Let everyone else burn themselves out and work all the hours they're alive. I'd be knocking off at 5pm and enjoying the time that I have to live my own life without answering to someone who feels I can't be trusted to have internet access.


To each their own, though.

davo10

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If you do a good job, does it matter that you're there early and late?

If someone really wants to advance in a role/company/whatever, and they want to give up all their time for free to a company, let them at it. I'm pretty sure just being more productive during the working day would suffice, though.

As for me, mediocrity is just fine. Let everyone else burn themselves out and work all the hours they're alive. I'd be knocking off at 5pm and enjoying the time that I have to live my own life without answering to someone who feels I can't be trusted to have internet access.


To each their own, though.

Doing a good job should be a basic requirement, not to be lauded. I'm not advocating "free time", I am advocating extra time beneficial to you for your advancement. Mediocrity is fine for most, it is what most businesses are built on, again it depends on ambition and perspective. Ambitious people rise, mediocre people stay put.

Clampdown

Tbh I'd say it's an empty enough threat. If the majority of the workforce have pcs connected online you must need it for work somehow otherwise why would they have it and pay for it. And why pay for it to 'block it.'

I'd just stay off it a week and then go back to the way it was. If anyone says anything, don't make a big deal, close it down and say sorry. If they block it then I would stop staying late. But they probably won't, it would be stupid to have a workplace offline in 2017.

campo

davo10 wrote: »

Doing a good job should be a basic requirement, not to be lauded. I'm not advocating "free time", I am advocating extra time beneficial to you for your advancement. Mediocrity is fine for most, it is what most businesses are built on, again it depends on ambition and perspective. Ambitious people rise, mediocre people stay put.

Nothing wrong with staying put we all can't be CEOs, as long as you are happy in work get some sort of decent wage and can come home to a nice family/friends time sure that is all that matters

prinzeugen

There is lies, deceit & taking the piss.

As a supervisor, I have no issue with staff using the internet before work, on breaks or during quiet times at the end of the shift.

Doing it during the busy point of the day will get you fired. No music/headphone rule applies also. I don't care if you can get the Man utd game live. If you are looking at the phone, bye bye

People are paid to work, not surf the net.

HeavyHeaded

I do a good job in work. I always have everything done on time. I'm always in on time. I have never had a sick day. I also get caught to stay late many nights. I used to play tag rugby on Tuesday evenings and missed it so many times with work that I ended up quitting.


That aside I generally like my job. I have about an hour in total through out the day that is quiet. And I mean nothing happening. Zilch!
This week not having internet to take a quick scroll through I found myself staring at the walls yawning and getting really tired. I ended up walking to the shop to wake myself up. Which they've no issue with. Go figure!

Its kinda a divided opinion as I have two managers and only one has a problem with internet usage.

fly_agaric

dresden8 wrote: »

Anybody who works for free is a fool.

But if they work hard for free for "businesspeople" who think like davo10, they are the right sort of fool and have avoided the fate of being "mediocre", which must be worth a few pay cheques!
Won't save them from the axe when they have outlived their usefulness though:(

Elessar

prinzeugen wrote: »

There is lies, deceit & taking the piss.

As a supervisor, I have no issue with staff using the internet before work, on breaks or during quiet times at the end of the shift.

Doing it during the busy point of the day will get you fired. No music/headphone rule applies also. I don't care if you can get the Man utd game live. If you are looking at the phone, bye bye

People are paid to work, not surf the net.

It depends on the job/industry. Working on the factory floor? Absolutely. Working in IT? Go and sh*te.

I use the net quite regularly and, though I wouldn't take the p*ss, I have no qualms about browsing around for a few minutes when the mood takes me.

I don't care who's looking at me. Day to day, am I:

- Doing my job? Yes.
- Doing it well and getting good feedback and reviews? Yes.
- Helping out with extra work and hours the odd time? Yes.

Petty enough to have an issue with me browsing the web sometimes despite all this? Cry me a river.

It sounds pretty sh*te OP what the company are doing, they clearly don't trust their staff. Sounds very Irish. There are lots of companies that won't treat you like that. Sounds laughable to be quite honest.

I simply wouldn't work in a place like that.

JustAThought

I worked a job relatively tecently where we didn't have internet available - unbelievable I know- email yes, two ot three sites required to perform functions, but otherwise none. Naturally I had my iphone but you woildn't believe how clear your head becomes when you're
Not jumping between ( tecreational) sites all day, nor how many small jobs get noticed and done or suggeated for project funding when you are bored out of your trolley.

I would say OP that someone is taking the proverbial so badly that they have had to bring this in. I woild also suggest prudence -
Another job (multinational) hauled the whole floor in one by one to discuss our internet usage - they had all the surfing times, sites & histograms - it was really scarey - and clearing histories didn't /hadn't worked. A few managers were demoted and one guy was fired & the company hauled us all in to sign that we would not vouch for him as referees in anything to do with our association with him through work. Turns out he had been surfing porn & a big discrimination case was underway by a female co-worker who took them to the cleaners for not providing a non sexual harrasment environment & assuring her dignity at work...

No smoke without fire - I'd maybe go totally offline & read instead or stare at the wall. Might be an opportunity to change or challenge processes so you are not left waiting on process bottlenecks at the end of the day to be able to complete your work. You used not mind souch as you could read the internet ....
Silver lining & all that.

Irish_Elect_Eng

I would love to have an hour "free" at work every day.

- Networking
- Managing-Up
- Keeping Up on Industry Trends
- Training new skills / Reading / Webinars.
- Mentor-ship
- Automating manual processes
- Reviewing / Updating Procedures
- Continuous Improvements
- Cost savings
- Doing some of my bosses or colleagues work if they are more swamped than I.

I understand if a person is in a role where they have no control over their work how these things may seem to be doing extra work when you do not have to. But it is work in these areas not in "your day job" or what you are "told to do" that gets you promoted and more money.

If I were you I would spend the hour first mapping the process/problems that keep you after hours, work out what the issues are and propose solutions. That would solve both of your problems, giving you something productive to do during your "free hour" and eliminating your overtime. It would raise your profile with your managers, your colleagues would appreciate it (and may help with the problem solving) and improve your work/life balance.

Wanderer2010

davo10 wrote: »

Doing a good job should be a basic requirement, not to be lauded. I'm not advocating "free time", I am advocating extra time beneficial to you for your advancement. Mediocrity is fine for most, it is what most businesses are built on, again it depends on ambition and perspective. Ambitious people rise, mediocre people stay put.

They often rise to more hours more stress and zero time to see their family but hey, having a great job title and no life means a lot to some people.

TimeToShine

davo10 wrote: »

Doing a good job should be a basic requirement, not to be lauded. I'm not advocating "free time", I am advocating extra time beneficial to you for your advancement. Mediocrity is fine for most, it is what most businesses are built on, again it depends on ambition and perspective. Ambitious people rise, mediocre people stay put.

Ambitious people in the context you describe would start their own business. Just because someone copy and pastes data in Excel a bit more eagerly than everyone else/ spends an extra hour from 5-6 writing up reports doesn't make them any more ambitious than the fella who punches in at 9 and straight back out at 5. Anyone beyond perhaps fresh grads working for the big 4 who can't get their work done between 9-5 who thinks putting in the extra hour is the only way to success needs a new job or a new career.

dresden8

fly_agaric wrote: »

But if they work hard for free for "businesspeople" who think like davo10, they are the right sort of fool and have avoided the fate of being "mediocre", which must be worth a few pay cheques!
Won't save them from the axe when they have outlived their usefulness though:(

"Loyalty" is very much a one way street.

These people are fools and they are fnckng it up for the rest of us.

Work has one measure of value.

Pay.

dresden8

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

They often rise to more hours more stress and zero time to see their family but hey, having a great job title and no life means a lot to some people.

I work for free but I'm an executive vice president in charge of change management, performance excellence and barista when the bosses are meeting real people.

I'm a part of the team. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay is for unambitious fools. The highly paid losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay is for losers. Woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanderer2010

dresden8 wrote: »

I work for free but I'm an executive vice president in charge of change management, performance excellence and barista when the bosses are meeting real people.

I'm a part of the team. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay is for unambitious fools. The highly paid losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay is for losers. Woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cant make head not tail of your post I'm afraid.

Irish_Elect_Eng

dresden8 wrote: »

"Loyalty" is very much a one way street.

These people are fools and they are fnckng it up for the rest of us.

Work has one measure of value.

Pay.

I would agree somewhat, companies and corporations that show genuine loyalty to their employees are rare, mainly because their #1 priority is to make money for shareholders.

But loyalty within the workplace between employees and their managers or colleagues on a team or department basis is a very common sight at least in the high performing companies and teams that I have had the pleasure of working with. I have seen managers and colleagues go out on a limb for their co-workers many times.

This only happens where the team have put in their time together and been loyal to each other in the past. The most common reason given when an employee goes that extra mile to help a colleague is simply "because they would do it for me".