.....with employees who actually make MORE money being on unemployment than being at work.
I've lived in Ohio forever, and I've talked to a few of my friends who have told me they just "claim" that the employer isn't protecting them, so they refuse to work, because of the extra $600 from Congress per week they get in addition to the state's unemployment.
....although, tbh, the unemployment portal is still a joke....
Now, if you want to come back, and offer me the chance to buy only the channels I actually watch (which is maybe a dozen.....) and charge me something reasonable (imma be generous and say $2.00 apiece), then sure, give me a call and we can talk.
Until then, Mr. Cable Provider, here's a dollar. Go down the street to the Starbucks, stand in line (socially distant, wear a mask), wait politely in line, and then, when the barrista motions you forward, order yourself a venti, half caff, half soy cup of stfu.
Can we please get some emergency legislation in place to prohibit anyone from copyrighting or patenting any prevention, treatment or cure for Coronavirus????
D. The drug is not "Trump's" but he is responsible for what people do after listening to his lies.
No, he's not responsible for people doing stupid shit. They choose to do stupid shit for.....reasons. Those same people, if they got divorced, would still be legally brother and sister...... lol
The old saying "So, if everyone else jumped off a cliff......."
I think the whole point of this article is that since the corporation has to pay for the arbitrator, if everyone who's pissed off files 100,000 arbitration claims versus 1 class action lawsuit, maybe (hopefully) the company will go bankrupt anyway :)
(Financially bankrupt. Most are already morally bankrupt)
According to your profile, you're living in Spain. Out of curiosity, how does the government pay for the healthcare?
No snark intended. I was wondering what tax rate does your employer take out of your check? Or, does the government use income derived from the VAT (that's still a thing in the EU, isn't it?)
Universal Healthcare in concept is great. I'm a fence sitter on this one. I've heard strong arguments for and against.
I was just wondering how the country pays for it. And, are there waiting lists for surgical procedures? Again, I hear stories on both sides of that one, too.
What I meant by my first comment that when I would get up to stretch my legs (I write code all day, I gotta get exercise), I would see people in the middle of posting to their Facebook pages. These people have 2 27" monitors, so, even at a comfortable distance away, it's very easy to discern what someone is doing. The building itself is secure, so I guess it didn't occur to anyone to put those cool 3M screen obscure filters on......
Anyway, to give even more (boring) detail, I did happen to have a conversation with someone who was not on my team, but who is a friend of mine. I walked by and said "Hey, how's it going?". Her response was "Oh, hey, sorry, just posting a new pic of my puppy. Isn't he soooooo cuuuuuute???" (Gotta admit, the pupper was cute).
No, I didn't narc her out. I did, however, lean in and whisper ("You know they track every mouse click and every keystroke, right?")
The look of shock on her face told me enough. But I added "Just sayin', you might want to do that on your phone......"
And, just like every contract we all blithely click "I've read all this crap", she also has to click Enter every damn day past the "This computer is monitored.....etc, etc."
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surve
You seemed to be the only person who took umbrage to my OP. But,
I do see your point, now that you've explained why this while subject is a sore for you right now.
Many times commenters (myself included) feel as passionately as you about the subject and want to put in their 2 cents. I would guess that, like me, they just want to convey their thoughts (in anger or in agreement or in Schadenfreude, whatever), oftentimes without the underlying context that might elucidate their point.
This little exercise has certainly brought that to light for me. I'll do my best to comport my future comments accordingly.
This hospital's policy makes about as much sense as the Navy firing CPT Crozier for desperately trying to get his men treated for Covid.
I understand he also has it himself.
Hospitals, doctors, nurses and front line workers NEED PPE, period.
I'll reserve my usual snark and answer you directly. NO, they weren't checking Facebook to see if someone was illegally claiming benefits. If you actually worked in the industry.....
<no, no, hold the snark, he's ignorant>
The employees in question were clearly reading their OWN Facebook posts, as the cubicles are laid out in such a way (2 monitors, side by side) that any one can CLEARLY see what they are viewing. Now that the job description has been clarified for you, they have a complete division of IT (part of what I used to do for the company ahem), that specializes in CID style investigations.
The leave examiners spend their days entering data
into the Total Absence Management System. They review medical reports from doctors, send out emails to claimants, contact doctors' offices to get the medical reports, etc. etc.
And yes, I know you will invent some sort of twelve-levels-away-from-what-they-get-paid-to-do to justify your next "well, maybe they're......."
I do agree that employees need breaks, and the company does provide 2 15 minute breaks and a half hour lunch. Also, the total work day is on 7 and a half hours, not 8. They also have more than enough work assigned to them to keep them busy for that long. It's the employees that took advantage and spent 3 hours of their day surfing the web, buying shit on Amazon and checking Facebook that ultimately ruined it for the rest of the people.
And no, it wasn't ME who narced on them. I personally couldn't care less, since I'm not management. It was the IT Director( s ) who monitored their keystrokes and mouse clicks (yes, they record ALL of the mouse clicks and keyboard strokes), and the ensuing reports he decided to have run showing how much time was being spent actually using the software we write versus how much time they spend on Facebook, Amazon, et al.
Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surveilance, but....
"The fact that most people are essentially forced to do the former is a problem far bigger than the individual."
Hence, my last line. "So, again, the choice IS YOURS. Hobsen's choice, though it may be."
I completely agree with everyone's dissenting opinion of my screed. But until the laws catch up with worker's rights....
Remember (2005? 2006?) when many employers demanded your Facebook credentials? At least THAT got shot down by the legislature... Or the government worker who was logged watching hours of porn from his work computer. (Idiot)
To a very MINUSCULE extent, I can understand why SOME companies monitor their employees.
I worked at <horrible third party administrator> for 5 years. It was not uncommon for me to walk down the row of cubes and see examiners on their Facebook pages or checking emails.
THAT specific behaviour I can see as unproductive, from the employer's point of view. (Finally, they did block those websites, so that problem was solved.)
Having said that....My original post title stands.
When you're at work, you're supposed to be doing work shit. Not shopping Amazon.
To reiterate, I agree that too many employers take monitoring to the EXTREME.
I think the monitoring mentioned in the article is unethical at best, unprofessional at worst. HOWEVER....
No one puts a gun to your head to accept the job offer. If you read your HR's employment guide, they usually mention that they monitor you and you accept that by signing the contract.
And, to rub salt into the wound, most of us have to VPN into the company's network, or even at the point of logging into the computer, you get a popup that you HAVE to agree to by clicking, whether you read it or not. Usually worded something like:
"This system is for authorized users only. Individual use of this computer system and/or network without authority, or in excess of your authority, is strictly prohibited. Monitoring of transmissions or transactional information may be conducted to ensure the proper functioning and security of electronic communication resources.
Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals possible criminal activity or policy violation, system personnel may provide the evidence of such monitoring to law enforcement or to other
senior officials for disciplinary action, up to and including termination."
So, again, the choice IS YOURS. Hobsen's choice, though it may be.
On the post: Ohio Government Asks Companies To Snitch On Employees, Gets Hit With Auto-Generated Bogus 'Tips' Instead
Also, there is fraud......
.....with employees who actually make MORE money being on unemployment than being at work.
I've lived in Ohio forever, and I've talked to a few of my friends who have told me they just "claim" that the employer isn't protecting them, so they refuse to work, because of the extra $600 from Congress per week they get in addition to the state's unemployment.
....although, tbh, the unemployment portal is still a joke....
On the post: Israeli Malware Merchant's Employee Used Powerful Spyware To Snoop On A Potential Love Interest
Ain't love grand?
Awwww... he lervs her! How sweet.
To the clown who abused his access to impress a chick.
Try roses next time, you asshat.
On the post: TV 'Cord Cutters' Will Be The Majority By 2022
Cut the cord 8 or 9 years ago....
..never looked back.
Now, if you want to come back, and offer me the chance to buy only the channels I actually watch (which is maybe a dozen.....) and charge me something reasonable (imma be generous and say $2.00 apiece), then sure, give me a call and we can talk.
Until then, Mr. Cable Provider, here's a dollar. Go down the street to the Starbucks, stand in line (socially distant, wear a mask), wait politely in line, and then, when the barrista motions you forward, order yourself a venti, half caff, half soy cup of stfu.
Regards.....
On the post: This Is My 50,000th Techdirt Post, And I'm Busy Working On 50,001
50,000 milestone
Seriously, congratulations, Mike. Good on you
On the post: Want To Know Why U.S. Broadband Is A Bad Joke? Take a Close Look at Frontier Communications
How are the monopolies allowed?
How are these areas allowing only one broadband provider??
On the post: Opening Up Information In A Pandemic, Rather Than Locking It Down: The Open COVID Pledge Is Important
Second on the great idea
Can we please get some emergency legislation in place to prohibit anyone from copyrighting or patenting any prevention, treatment or cure for Coronavirus????
On the post: Corporations Not Happy Innovators Have 'Hacked' The Crappy U.S. Binding Arbitration System
Re: Re:
D. The drug is not "Trump's" but he is responsible for what people do after listening to his lies.
No, he's not responsible for people doing stupid shit. They choose to do stupid shit for.....reasons. Those same people, if they got divorced, would still be legally brother and sister...... lol
The old saying "So, if everyone else jumped off a cliff......."
On the post: Corporations Not Happy Innovators Have 'Hacked' The Crappy U.S. Binding Arbitration System
Re:
I think the whole point of this article is that since the corporation has to pay for the arbitrator, if everyone who's pissed off files 100,000 arbitration claims versus 1 class action lawsuit, maybe (hopefully) the company will go bankrupt anyway :)
(Financially bankrupt. Most are already morally bankrupt)
On the post: Corporations Not Happy Innovators Have 'Hacked' The Crappy U.S. Binding Arbitration System
Re: Re:
" C. Right-wing nutjob blog sites are not trustworthy news sites."
How are Left-wing moonbat blog sites any more trustworthy???
....lit that fuse.....run with it....
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Re: ...defending employee surveilance, but....
Excellent points all, sir! Thank you for the clarification. My sister is a British citizen now, which is why the term "VAT" stuck in mind.
Thanks for the reading material as well! I will have some more interesting reading this weekend. Thanks again.
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Camera jammers
Would you happen to have any jammer brand names / models that one could buy? (Asking for a friend :P )
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Business ethics
I agree that employers should abide by "business ethics". Sadly, I do not believe that "business ethics" is defined anywhere in the canons of law.
What one company finds abhorrent another company shrugs off as "M'eh, nothing wrong with that....."
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
...defending employee surveilance, but....
According to your profile, you're living in Spain. Out of curiosity, how does the government pay for the healthcare?
No snark intended. I was wondering what tax rate does your employer take out of your check? Or, does the government use income derived from the VAT (that's still a thing in the EU, isn't it?)
Universal Healthcare in concept is great. I'm a fence sitter on this one. I've heard strong arguments for and against.
I was just wondering how the country pays for it. And, are there waiting lists for surgical procedures? Again, I hear stories on both sides of that one, too.
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
I'm NOT defending employee s
What I meant by my first comment that when I would get up to stretch my legs (I write code all day, I gotta get exercise), I would see people in the middle of posting to their Facebook pages. These people have 2 27" monitors, so, even at a comfortable distance away, it's very easy to discern what someone is doing. The building itself is secure, so I guess it didn't occur to anyone to put those cool 3M screen obscure filters on......
Anyway, to give even more (boring) detail, I did happen to have a conversation with someone who was not on my team, but who is a friend of mine. I walked by and said "Hey, how's it going?". Her response was "Oh, hey, sorry, just posting a new pic of my puppy. Isn't he soooooo cuuuuuute???" (Gotta admit, the pupper was cute).
No, I didn't narc her out. I did, however, lean in and whisper ("You know they track every mouse click and every keystroke, right?")
The look of shock on her face told me enough. But I added "Just sayin', you might want to do that on your phone......"
And, just like every contract we all blithely click "I've read all this crap", she also has to click Enter every damn day past the "This computer is monitored.....etc, etc."
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surve
You seemed to be the only person who took umbrage to my OP. But,
I do see your point, now that you've explained why this while subject is a sore for you right now.
Many times commenters (myself included) feel as passionately as you about the subject and want to put in their 2 cents. I would guess that, like me, they just want to convey their thoughts (in anger or in agreement or in Schadenfreude, whatever), oftentimes without the underlying context that might elucidate their point.
This little exercise has certainly brought that to light for me. I'll do my best to comport my future comments accordingly.
Thanks for the extra information.
.
On the post: Largest Hospital System In The US Threatens To Fire Doctors & Nurses For Telling The Truth About COVID-19 Disaster
Another example of overreach
This hospital's policy makes about as much sense as the Navy firing CPT Crozier for desperately trying to get his men treated for Covid.
I understand he also has it himself.
Hospitals, doctors, nurses and front line workers NEED PPE, period.
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surveilance,
I'll reserve my usual snark and answer you directly. NO, they weren't checking Facebook to see if someone was illegally claiming benefits. If you actually worked in the industry.....
<no, no, hold the snark, he's ignorant>
The employees in question were clearly reading their OWN Facebook posts, as the cubicles are laid out in such a way (2 monitors, side by side) that any one can CLEARLY see what they are viewing. Now that the job description has been clarified for you, they have a complete division of IT (part of what I used to do for the company ahem), that specializes in CID style investigations.
The leave examiners spend their days entering data
into the Total Absence Management System. They review medical reports from doctors, send out emails to claimants, contact doctors' offices to get the medical reports, etc. etc.
And yes, I know you will invent some sort of twelve-levels-away-from-what-they-get-paid-to-do to justify your next "well, maybe they're......."
I do agree that employees need breaks, and the company does provide 2 15 minute breaks and a half hour lunch. Also, the total work day is on 7 and a half hours, not 8. They also have more than enough work assigned to them to keep them busy for that long. It's the employees that took advantage and spent 3 hours of their day surfing the web, buying shit on Amazon and checking Facebook that ultimately ruined it for the rest of the people.
And no, it wasn't ME who narced on them. I personally couldn't care less, since I'm not management. It was the IT Director( s ) who monitored their keystrokes and mouse clicks (yes, they record ALL of the mouse clicks and keyboard strokes), and the ensuing reports he decided to have run showing how much time was being spent actually using the software we write versus how much time they spend on Facebook, Amazon, et al.
Satisfied? (No, probably not... :P )
Fixed that for you
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Re: Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surveilance, but....
"Are you sure the people you're complaining about weren't updating the company social media pages or procuring some needed IT equipment?"
Absolutely. Their job was to process leave & disability claims.
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
Re: Re: I'm NOT defending employee surveilance, but....
"The fact that most people are essentially forced to do the former is a problem far bigger than the individual."
Hence, my last line. "So, again, the choice IS YOURS. Hobsen's choice, though it may be."
I completely agree with everyone's dissenting opinion of my screed. But until the laws catch up with worker's rights....
Remember (2005? 2006?) when many employers demanded your Facebook credentials? At least THAT got shot down by the legislature... Or the government worker who was logged watching hours of porn from his work computer. (Idiot)
To a very MINUSCULE extent, I can understand why SOME companies monitor their employees.
I worked at <horrible third party administrator> for 5 years. It was not uncommon for me to walk down the row of cubes and see examiners on their Facebook pages or checking emails.
THAT specific behaviour I can see as unproductive, from the employer's point of view. (Finally, they did block those websites, so that problem was solved.)
Having said that....My original post title stands.
When you're at work, you're supposed to be doing work shit. Not shopping Amazon.
To reiterate, I agree that too many employers take monitoring to the EXTREME.
.
On the post: Another Coronavirus Side Effect: In-Home Surveillance By Remote Workers' Employers
I'm NOT defending employee surveilance, but....
I think the monitoring mentioned in the article is unethical at best, unprofessional at worst. HOWEVER....
No one puts a gun to your head to accept the job offer. If you read your HR's employment guide, they usually mention that they monitor you and you accept that by signing the contract.
And, to rub salt into the wound, most of us have to VPN into the company's network, or even at the point of logging into the computer, you get a popup that you HAVE to agree to by clicking, whether you read it or not. Usually worded something like:
"This system is for authorized users only. Individual use of this computer system and/or network without authority, or in excess of your authority, is strictly prohibited. Monitoring of transmissions or transactional information may be conducted to ensure the proper functioning and security of electronic communication resources.
Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals possible criminal activity or policy violation, system personnel may provide the evidence of such monitoring to law enforcement or to other
senior officials for disciplinary action, up to and including termination."
So, again, the choice IS YOURS. Hobsen's choice, though it may be.
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