Big Brother strikes again...

Denis · February 08, 2010, 10:31:47 AM

As of last week, photo hosting sites like Photobucket, Flicker and Snapfish are all blocked here at work. It really sucks because some of the coolest pics are posted here and they are a terrific distraction during breaks and whatnot. Dang German company...

GonzoBass · February 08, 2010, 11:45:07 AM

Sheesh!
What do they expect you to do while you're at work?

Denis · February 08, 2010, 12:27:25 PM

I guess they are serious about this work stuff! BUT, they just unblocked eBay, which has me stumped. While all auction/classified sites were blocked, Craigslist was left unblocked, so I have no idea what the real plan is. It's just...odd.

eb2 · February 08, 2010, 01:08:29 PM

Don't you know anyone in IT? Those guys always have a way to get around a wall. I used to work in IT, and the head guy was a guitar player, so we talked shop, we talked guitars, and eventually I looked at whatever I wanted.

OldManC · February 08, 2010, 01:36:58 PM

I wish all internet had been blocked in the places I worked over the last ten years. It's a lot easier to get stuff done when you know you can't look at eBay, the Outpost, Drudge, etc... Philosophically, I have no problem with an employer requiring 100% of my mind at work (seeing as they were paying me to be there), but it was always hard when all I had to do was open up a laptop (which we were even provided with at some facilities I've worked at)! I always got my work done, but I'm sure I could have learned more about my craft in all that downtime I had waiting for film (instead of looking for Thunderbirds)...

Pilgrim · February 08, 2010, 03:25:06 PM

A number of companies buy items and materials on Ebay. Maybe that's why?

Aussie Mark · February 08, 2010, 03:29:28 PM

Photobucket is still available here, but not Flickr. All blogs are banned, as are the satirical news sites. Myspace, Facebook YouTube and Twitter are only available before 8am, noon-2pm, and after 5pm. I can't get onto some forums at all outside of those times, unless I go through a "back door" into the forum (ie. not via the main index page).

Pilgrim · February 08, 2010, 03:31:03 PM

I must sadly admit that if it were the case here, my much-respected employing institution would have had the benefit of many more hours of my time over the past year(s).

Highlander · February 08, 2010, 03:33:11 PM

I spend too much time here as it is (ask my wife and daughter... on second thoughts, don't...) so it's lucky I'm road based...

OldManC · February 08, 2010, 03:48:16 PM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on February 08, 2010, 03:29:28 PM
Photobucket is still available here, but not Flickr. All blogs are banned, as are the satirical news sites. Myspace, Facebook YouTube and Twitter are only available before 8am, noon-2pm, and after 5pm. I can't get onto some forums at all outside of those times, unless I go through a "back door" into the forum (ie. not via the main index page).

What a sensible solution! Of course, in my business we ran three shifts so it probably wouldn't have worked for me.

rahock · February 09, 2010, 06:15:39 AM

For 15 years I hired and fired IT people. If you take a look at your employment agreement I'm willing to bet there is something in there that mentions the use of company resources for personal use, is grounds for termination. This is somethimg that is usually not too strictly enforced as long as it is not abused. However, when times are tough and companies are looking to let people go, it is a lot cheaper for them to terminate than it is to lay off and suffer an increase in unemployment insurance contributions. Companies will do what they have to to survive. I have witnessed many terminations where people were fired right out from under their bosses , who did not want to let them go. An offsite network administrator monitoring unathorized network use, just prepared his report of who was breaking the rules and the people on the list were terminated by HR. Their bosses were notified of the terminations on the day they happened. Very Cold

You're fortunate you're just getting blocked because the company does has the right to get ugly about it if they want to.
Rick

Denis · February 09, 2010, 08:41:57 AM

Yeah, I know and technically I agree. For a long time personal email was blocked, which of course resulted in employees using company email for personal uses. It's unavoidable, really. They eventually wised up and now we have access to personal email accounts.

gweimer · February 09, 2010, 11:11:13 AM

Because I work for a retail banking operation, our filters seem a little odd at first. No personal email, no networking sites, no social sites, and no photo/video sites. We can go to eBay, though. I decided that anywhere we can spend money, and use a credit card, is fine with the higher ups. Spending money is good business for us.
Internally, we use instant messaging like junkies, which goes contrary to every place I've ever worked, but our groups often span half the globe, and IM gives us instant contact and group chats to work on issues.

Denis · February 12, 2010, 06:07:08 AM

Odd. As of this morning, Photobucket is back up and accessible. Not that I ever look at non-work related things at, uh, work...