Useless Conversation

[Hammond]

In our case we had a issue (prior employee doing something he should have) which caused them to implement it.  We are a VERY open company and only implement things which people ruin it for everyone else.

This is Bad Management.

Seriously.

That is debatable.  When you get lawyers and insurance involved sometimes you got to do some distasteful things. 

  Just cause I am bored I will tell you the story why we implemented a filter keep in mind some of this is second and third hand since it happened before I started.  So what happened is a guy was looking at sexy pictures  at work (yea stupid worker) another worker saw what he was looking at and got offended.  She turned around and sued the company for a "toxic" workplace.  Apparently she had been looking for a way to get back at the company for a extended period (nobody really knows why).  The result was the original guy that did wrong got terminated and the lady got a settlement. In my mind the only bad management decision was to be to nice to your employees and not resolving the problems with her before it got out of hand.  She never once approached management about her issues she only documented it. 

Same company sent a employee to rehab 2 time due to his drinking problem.  He then crashed the company vehicle (which they let him drive) when he was drinking.  It wasn't til that was done that he was fired. 

At any rate we only block social networking sites, porn, ads and virus sources now days.

[bhodi]

In our case we had a issue (prior employee doing something he should have) which caused them to implement it.  We are a VERY open company and only implement things which people ruin it for everyone else.

This is Bad Management.

Seriously.

Don't scar on the first cut

[Ironwood]

That said what I would have, had I been able to be bothered.  Quite right.

A further point is it devalues the remaining staff and makes them feel like they've been punished globally for someone elses mistake.

Further, blocking treats people as children.  Monitoring treats them as adults.  I despise the Management that doesn't know the difference.

[Hammond]

And I would agree with you that blocking treats people like children.  Luckily we only block a very small segment of internet.  I mean come on facebook at work? Porn? Is there a reason to allow that type of stuff?   

And Ironwood I had to read that first sentence 3 times to grasp what you were saying.  I kept reading it in a bad English accent in my head for some reason

[Lantyssa]

Well there's your problem.  He's not English.

[Merusk]

By banning Facebook at work all you're doing is forcing your people to access it from their smartphones instead.  Which means they'll probably get up and leave their desk so they don't look like they're on a personal call at work.  Meaning they've now wasted more time than simply letting them have access.

Do you force people to clock-out when going for a smoke? To the shitter? When discussing their kids, dates, weekends, that dodad on your desk?

If it's a problem that someone's on ALL THE TIME and not doing their work, it's a problem with the individual.  
If they're on all the time and still accomplishing all their tasks they're either fantastic and you want to hold on to them forevar or (more likely) underutilized.  

Both scenarios are where you realize it's a management problem and not a policy problem.

Ed:

Note: This argument will only ever be successful when applied to professional positions in the US. Hourly will continue to get treated like dirt because, "you're hourly so not working 100% of the time means you're stealing from the company."

[Ironwood]

Yup.

[Abagadro]

Depends on the size of the organization. We block a lot of stuff but we have 2500 employees spread all over the place. Monitoring all that would be tough.  It's not all about wasting time for us either and has as much to do with the misuse of publicly owned equipment as anything.l

[Nebu]

Why even spend the resources blocking the internet anymore when most people will just waste time looking at the same shit on their phone?

[MuffinMan]

I always thought it was less about wasting time and more about blocking bandwidth intensive things and to not offend people when you're looking at porn in your cubicle.

[Cheddar]

Why even spend the resources blocking the internet anymore when most people will just waste time looking at the same shit on their phone?

Liability.

[Merusk]

Public sector gets it's own special list of "wtfhood" and shouldn't be included in professional discussions because of that whole tax money thing.   If certain segments of the population had their way, the public sector would be sitting on stainless steel chairs in aircraft-hangars that make the cubicles in Gilliam's Brazil positively cheerful.

Bandwidth is a legit reason to throttle things, as is porn simply because of Liability, as Ched points out.  But we weren't talking about these, were we?  I explicitly mentioned Facebook, I don't know that Ironwood was expecting to allow folks to watch Redtube at work, either.

[Abagadro]

I think you would be pretty surprised how many people don't have phones that can access that stuff. It's also easier to see someone goofing around on their phone compared to their PC.

[Hammond]

Oh I know Ironwood is not English which was part of the reason it was funny. 

Its interesting to hear the arguments for allowing facebook or other sites like it.   The point is not that people will work around a policy that is a given.  It is more about the misuse of company resources or becoming liable for the stupid actions of people. 

Facebook has several issues.
1. It is a known virus vector
2. It creates resentment in other workers because people think that person is screwing off
3. It utilizes limited bandwidth much like youtube, hulu, netflix.  (I have seen workers use them all over the years and we only have a bonded pair of T-1s which is 3 megs)
I could go on but what is the point. 

I can only imagine the work places some of you had to endure judging from your reactions though.   

[Ironwood]

Ultimately, I'd rather know about the chap who's spending 7 hours on Facebook rather than blocking him.

Because he's a cunt I want gone.

[Cyrrex]

Facebook has several issues.
1. It is a known virus vector
 

I don't think Syphillis is technically a virus.

[Salamok]

Further, blocking treats people as children.

I kind of like being blocked, our computers are locked down enough at this point that I just figure that anything I can do is implicitly allowed by policy.  spend 3 hours a day on reddit "Oh I'm sorry was that bad?"

[Ironwood]

 

[murdoc]

We don't block anything, but do monitor bandwidth. So far, there's been nothing that has caused us to raise an issue. Basically, we're told that they want to keep everyone happy and if they go on Facebook for 6 hours and manage to complete all their work, it's not a problem. We also have a 100mb/s pipe for 350 employees, so it's not really a concern. Company policy is to keep the employees happy. There's a small window for fuck-ups though. A lot of times they're just giving you enough leash to hang yourself.

Hell, I have SWtOR installed on my work PC to craft while I do off-hour 'next -> next -> next -> Finish' type stuff.

Oil and Gas is a different beast though, we have to explain to field guys that sending porn to large company distribution lists is not really acceptable on a "more often than you'd think" basis. It's also not uncommon for guys to expense their $15.99 hotel movies with no name either. I'd find it hard to go back to working in a more professional environment.

[Ironwood]

 

Got any job openings ?

[murdoc]

Got any job openings ?

Always.

I've been here for a year and we've gone from 350 total employees to over 500 (350 at headoffice - rest in the field). The IT team alone has gone from 10 to 22 and I know we're not alone in those types of numbers.

Serious answers for not serious questions!

[Ironwood]

This would be the point where you tell me you're based in Finland or summat, right ?

[Yegolev]

Every time you read "But if..." or "However..." in the Form 1040 instructions, take a drink.

Also I'm going to guess murdoc's company relies on "intangible benefits" rather than my preferred Hard Cash and Vacation Days.  But prove me wrong!  Although my new boss is making it more difficult to look for other work.

[Johny Cee]

We don't block anything, but do monitor bandwidth. So far, there's been nothing that has caused us to raise an issue. Basically, we're told that they want to keep everyone happy and if they go on Facebook for 6 hours and manage to complete all their work, it's not a problem. We also have a 100mb/s pipe for 350 employees, so it's not really a concern. Company policy is to keep the employees happy. There's a small window for fuck-ups though. A lot of times they're just giving you enough leash to hang yourself.

Hell, I have SWtOR installed on my work PC to craft while I do off-hour 'next -> next -> next -> Finish' type stuff.

Oil and Gas is a different beast though, we have to explain to field guys that sending porn to large company distribution lists is not really acceptable on a "more often than you'd think" basis. It's also not uncommon for guys to expense their $15.99 hotel movies with no name either. I'd find it hard to go back to working in a more professional environment.

 

My brother is a hydrogeologist working out of Calgary, and some of the stories about the mining camps he's been to Up North have been hilarious/terrifying.  The levels of vice in some of those places make computer porn seem staid....  it literally is the Wild West when you take into account that some camps require at least one person to be armed at any given time due to wild animals...

[murdoc]

This would be the point where you tell me you're based in Finland or summat, right ?

Calgary, Canada.

Every time you read "But if..." or "However..." in the Form 1040 instructions, take a drink.

Also I'm going to guess murdoc's company relies on "intangible benefits" rather than my preferred Hard Cash and Vacation Days.  But prove me wrong!  Although my new boss is making it more difficult to look for other work.

Without going into too much detail my base salary is quite good for what I do (YMMV) and included a rather significant bonus (25%) and raise (15%) this year, and I'm going to guess I'm the least paid on the infrastructure team. Start with 4 weeks vacation, and 10 designated days off - which are the 5 between Christmas and New Years and starting the May long weekend, every long weekend in the summer is extended to 4 days. Basically works to about 7 weeks of vacation if I count the DDOs, flex days and my actual vacation days.

And stock, a lot of stock. Enough to make sure I'm mortgage free in the next 4 years. I also got in at a good time as our stock price is finally starting to rise, there's a lot of people who don't have much that's worth anything since the stock dropped rather significantly over the last 18 months.

We don't block anything, but do monitor bandwidth. So far, there's been nothing that has caused us to raise an issue. Basically, we're told that they want to keep everyone happy and if they go on Facebook for 6 hours and manage to complete all their work, it's not a problem. We also have a 100mb/s pipe for 350 employees, so it's not really a concern. Company policy is to keep the employees happy. There's a small window for fuck-ups though. A lot of times they're just giving you enough leash to hang yourself.

Hell, I have SWtOR installed on my work PC to craft while I do off-hour 'next -> next -> next -> Finish' type stuff.

Oil and Gas is a different beast though, we have to explain to field guys that sending porn to large company distribution lists is not really acceptable on a "more often than you'd think" basis. It's also not uncommon for guys to expense their $15.99 hotel movies with no name either. I'd find it hard to go back to working in a more professional environment.

 

My brother is a hydrogeologist working out of Calgary, and some of the stories about the mining camps he's been to Up North have been hilarious/terrifying.  The levels of vice in some of those places make computer porn seem staid....  it literally is the Wild West when you take into account that some camps require at least one person to be armed at any given time due to wild animals...

It's ALWAYS an adventure going out to do work in the field. It really is the Wild West up north. A lot of our work is in southern Saskatchewan on the US border or middle of Alberta, so it's a little tamer than the stories you've likely heard.

[Chimpy]

Does your compant sponsor Americans wanting to emigrate?

[Ironwood]

Queue forms to the left, bitchfist.

I have family in Canada.  I may try it.

 

[Yegolev]

Without going into too much detail my base salary is quite good for what I do (YMMV) and included a rather significant bonus (25%) and raise (15%) this year, and I'm going to guess I'm the least paid on the infrastructure team. Start with 4 weeks vacation, and 10 designated days off - which are the 5 between Christmas and New Years and starting the May long weekend, every long weekend in the summer is extended to 4 days. Basically works to about 7 weeks of vacation if I count the DDOs, flex days and my actual vacation days.

All this and no link to your careers page?  Although I can't move, really, so if you don't allow telecommuting then I'll not bother you.

Queue forms to the left, bitchfist.

By all means...!

[Hammond]

Got to love working in a hot job market.  I have 2 co-workers that moved out of Calgary area in the 80's when the economy sucked.  I asked them if they would move back and and they looked at me like I was crazy.  They have both kept their citizenship though as a safety net...

[Johny Cee]

This would be the point where you tell me you're based in Finland or summat, right ?

Calgary, Canada.

Every time you read "But if..." or "However..." in the Form 1040 instructions, take a drink.

Also I'm going to guess murdoc's company relies on "intangible benefits" rather than my preferred Hard Cash and Vacation Days.  But prove me wrong!  Although my new boss is making it more difficult to look for other work.

Without going into too much detail my base salary is quite good for what I do (YMMV) and included a rather significant bonus (25%) and raise (15%) this year, and I'm going to guess I'm the least paid on the infrastructure team. Start with 4 weeks vacation, and 10 designated days off - which are the 5 between Christmas and New Years and starting the May long weekend, every long weekend in the summer is extended to 4 days. Basically works to about 7 weeks of vacation if I count the DDOs, flex days and my actual vacation days.

And stock, a lot of stock. Enough to make sure I'm mortgage free in the next 4 years. I also got in at a good time as our stock price is finally starting to rise, there's a lot of people who don't have much that's worth anything since the stock dropped rather significantly over the last 18 months.

We don't block anything, but do monitor bandwidth. So far, there's been nothing that has caused us to raise an issue. Basically, we're told that they want to keep everyone happy and if they go on Facebook for 6 hours and manage to complete all their work, it's not a problem. We also have a 100mb/s pipe for 350 employees, so it's not really a concern. Company policy is to keep the employees happy. There's a small window for fuck-ups though. A lot of times they're just giving you enough leash to hang yourself.

Hell, I have SWtOR installed on my work PC to craft while I do off-hour 'next -> next -> next -> Finish' type stuff.

Oil and Gas is a different beast though, we have to explain to field guys that sending porn to large company distribution lists is not really acceptable on a "more often than you'd think" basis. It's also not uncommon for guys to expense their $15.99 hotel movies with no name either. I'd find it hard to go back to working in a more professional environment.

 

My brother is a hydrogeologist working out of Calgary, and some of the stories about the mining camps he's been to Up North have been hilarious/terrifying.  The levels of vice in some of those places make computer porn seem staid....  it literally is the Wild West when you take into account that some camps require at least one person to be armed at any given time due to wild animals...

It's ALWAYS an adventure going out to do work in the field. It really is the Wild West up north. A lot of our work is in southern Saskatchewan on the US border or middle of Alberta, so it's a little tamer than the stories you've likely heard.

The other side of the coin is, of course, you work for the gas and oil companies.  The camps are floating with gambling, drug use and prostitution....  and roughnecks are shipped in from Newfoundland and used up as quickly as possible.  And when shit goes bust, it goes bust.  It can be the oil market, or Alberta being assholes about the royalty agreement, or whatever.  All of a sudden people are getting laid off left and right, the housing market collapses, options become worthless, etc.  And as the season is limited, when you are extracting you are going 24 hours a day.

Also?  People get semi-regularly eaten by critters, either bear or panther.

[Lantyssa]

Do you get a referral bonus?  We might make you rich...

[Merusk]

Every time you read "But if..." or "However..." in the Form 1040 instructions, take a drink.

Also I'm going to guess murdoc's company relies on "intangible benefits" rather than my preferred Hard Cash and Vacation Days.  But prove me wrong!  Although my new boss is making it more difficult to look for other work.

Who reads the forms?  Turbo Tax/ Tax Cut all the way.  Zoomed through my return in about 2 hours, including state and rechecking every damned thing due to my job loss & personal business work last year.

[murdoc]

As a matter of fact I DO get a referral bonus 

Here's the careers page: http://www.petrobakken.com/careers/

I will add that the majority of jobs are never posted on it. They hire almost entirely from referrals and word of mouth. There is no telecommuting, which is kind of silly imo. Personally, I like coming into the office and working but there's no real NEED for me to. We're also in the newest office building in Calgary, and that might not seem like much, but having an office in a brand spanking new building is pretty great. (http://www.eighthavenueplace.com/).

Honestly, I'm lucky. It's a hot market right now, we never really experience the economic downturn that a lot of you did and i just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I can guarantee that a large number of you would be much more qualified to do my job than I am. Having said that, it's been extra incentive for me to know that they liked me in my 'fit' interview and were willing to give me a shot even though I lacked some of the experience that others did. They treat me good, so I try to make sure that I give them no reason to be unhappy. It was well timed, as we had *just* had the twins and it gave us some more flexibility what to do when my Wife's maternity leave was up.

[ghost]

I need a good, easy to use encryption program for cloud stored data that will work cross platform (mac, windows, iphone, etc.)  Any ideas?

[Yegolev]

Who reads the forms?  Turbo Tax/ Tax Cut all the way.

Well, I decided TurboTax was a highway robber and am using TaxACT.  So it wants me to decide if I want to deduct my state return or something, and in the interest of being cheap I am manually recalculating my 2010 return using a new number for Line 5 on Schedule A.  The fantastic part is how I found a duplication of my property tax from TurboTax last year on Lines 6 and 8.  So that's something to consider.