I used to be the boss. Now I am retired. There were many times when I thought my employees were stealing from me, but it was not merchandise. It was 'time'. When paid an hourly wage to do a job, then the job is exactly what an employee should be doing. The biggest time wasters we had then were smoke breaks. I didn't mind an employee taking a smoke break as long as they didn't do it for too long or too often and didn't ignore customers. Now with the information world and the entertainment world so easily accessed they too jeopardize your jobs if not used approprietly. I have heard many employees say they take their ipods to work, also their DS, and cell phones. I also find that many employees are doing personal stuff on their work computers. All of these things may be okay, but you need to be fair to your employer. Talk to them. If they don't have a problem, then you are home free. If you don't ask and don't get permission, then you are stealing valuable time from your work place. Some jobs can't allow these items and common sense tells you which ones they are.
If you are a hospital worker, you can not be distracted by these devices. Lives depend upon your alertness.
If you have an office job with a computer sitting in front of you, the temptation may be great to look up things of your interest, email or IM your friends, compose letters or stories that are of the personal nature, but discuss it with your employer first. If he/she feels you are stealing valuable time from the office, then they have a right to let you go.
Ipods may be alright in a warehouse or similar jobs, but not if you did not ask you employer before hand.
If I were to leave a $100 dollars lying in plain view and some one took it, then the person would be considered a thief. If I were to leave a nickel lying in plain view and some one took it, the person would still be considered a thief. If I am the employer and some one used the computer for personal needs and had not gained my permission to do so, they too would still be considered a thief. Have you ever heard of taking money under false pretenses?
Talk to your employer. The job you save, may be your own.
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Comments: 19
1 hour for lunch is a stretch but thought it reflected better on business/.
Dina we gave 2-15 minute breaks and 1/2 hour for lunch or dinner. We were in a service business and could only take the breaks when it was slow time and only one at a time. If the employees wished to use those breaks for smoking it was their choice.
It is nice for the company to provide computers for personal time during breaks Kenneth. The computer age has come a long way in the last several years.
Thanks to all who commented.
I suppose it depends on the person though - I appear to be the exception at my workplace!
Sometimes I also listen to Sirius satellite radio on the internet, but I have asked my boss and he is ok with it as long as I am still productive.
You really do need to be careful about these things. Some companies have their rules spelled out in their employee manuals. Even though they seem to be tolerating behaviors spelled out as not tolerated in the manuals, the time may come when people are called on them. In one company, 25% of employees were fired one Friday...for using computers for personal use. They said they didn't know anyone would be upset about checking a few emails or sending a few. But it was in the manuals. The company didn't do any warnings, just fired about 600 people - poof.
The telephone company reviewed their policy with us every year, and we signed a paper saying that we understood. The policy went into stealing so everything was spelled out for you!