Web access curtailed, yikes...

[dettu]

I can't even talk in detail, but I had to sign a paper in the presence of HR saying that I wouldn't "abuse" the web--the company is tracking my clicks.  Although they named this as the one site I may access other than delivery and supply ordering, I just won't do it from work.  I had to sign another paper all about my bad attitude--bossie had taken bits of my email and spliced them into a document to make it look like I spend all my time (offline) saying cruel things about co-workers--about whom he has made remarks to me often.  He insists that I'm wasting 2 hours daily on the web.  I didn't say anything to HR about how many hours he sleeps in the office.  I just sat there.  So I'm offline at work now and only reading this from home...don't need anyone tracking my clicks, however clean and helpful to me they may be.



With all that extra time, I have Windexed my desk three times this week and it sure is clean.  I dusted too, and I ordered myself a new file holder for my desk, so it's even cleaner.  It's really clean.  I should have time to clean it again Monday.



 

[ocblnd]

YIKES ! ! ! !    :ekk      

We have also been told the company has put in place software that will track all website browsing and the reports will be checked for timewasting.

I figure as Executive Secretary and working on course for HR on Admin Excellence I have a right to be out here on this site, at least twice a day.....I do try to limit my wandering.  There are a couple of other admin sites I check plus travel stuff and office supply ordering.



Sounds like you are between a  rock and a hard place right now.....hang in there ! ! ! !        

[bethalize]

That sounds so vicious. You know when it's time to dust off the resume? When the boss tells lies about you.

[jadegrniiz]

Yikes is right....



But I certainly hope if you DID sign anything you added your comments to the paper before doing so.



Liz is right....  the minute your boss starts manufacturing lies about you is the minute it becomes necessary to dust off the resume.



 

[dettu]

He didn't exactly LIE but he did exaggerate to the nth degree, and what really irks me is that all the things the HR robot suggested--that I try to have regular meetings with him, that we sit down together to discuss his expectations and how procedures were done up to his arrival here, etc. I have ALREADY TRIED TO DO and he's told me he doesn't "do meetings," he doesn't have time, we'll do that some time, etc.  I told her that too, but no, it doesn't go in the document.



WRT resume, yes, but now the complication: the night before this happened, DH announced to me that *his* company may go under, or at least the part of it that he manages, and that he has to get out while he still has time to pick and choose from good opportunities.  This will most likely necessitate our leaving (unnamed beautiful much-loved smallish city) and going back to (not favorite former metropolitan area), and if that happens, I may as well save up any job-hunting for that time.  As I said in a different post ("relocation,") I'm hoping to move into an editorial assistant position, which would be easier in (proposed relocation area) than here.  So I am trying to sit tight and not have those darned personal conversations while simultaneously not isolating myself, whatever that means.  Imagine, I went to work that day thinking, "At least my job is steady and I can be semi-comfortable here until we go."  I wasn't in the best shape to get hit by bossie that day...

[andrea843]

Ya know, it never ceases to amaze me how far some bossies will go to establish their authority, and don't kid yourself Dettu that's what this was about. Yes.  As the employer bossie has a right to do what he did, but having the right to do something and doing it the way you tell us it was done are two different things aren't they? A good boss, interested in counselling you, interested in retaining you, would not have done this in the manner it was handled.



"I can read your email, I can haul you in front of HR, I can track your every movement....I have control.



Further, an entry in your pesonel record of this nature is tantamount to carer suicide. It can be seen by internal managers seeking to promote or transfer you, and implies a misuse of company technology, in short it's the kiss of death career wise and that's exactly why he did it.



So since bossie is tracking your clicks here's a thought.  Start entering searchs for things like: Power tripping bosses, dealing with the megomaniac supervisor, dealing with the sabotaging boss let him take that to HR.  And I havent said this to anyone in a loooong time... bt darlin dust off that resume.  This guy is not interested in your professional betterment, he's looking for a way to establish a negative history with you so moving you out of his way won't be a legal issue.



I support an employer's right to track the usage of their equipment I support an employer's right (and the legal necessity) of destroying the employee expectation of privacy with a clearly written internet usage policy.



I do not support an HR policy of selective enforcement. Nor would I be particularly endeared of an HR person who ignored the obvious warning signs of issues on both sides here and deigned to give you a lecture on communicating with this guy via meetings when it's apparent his communication style involves getting access to your computer without your knowledge. use that windex on your keboard darlin and get that resume out out out!



And bossie...if you're reading this...if there was ever a candidate for the hall o'shame...baby it's you. Here's a word guaranteed to make you cringe....empowerment.  Managers who empower and not belittle are successful.  Managers who take the low road out of their own insecurities and inability to communicate, while hiding behind policy, often find themselves the recipient of the same treatment eventually...here's hoping!

 

[energizer]

Does your company have it's own web site?  Mine does, and I use that page as my "home page."  That way, any time I access the web, my company's web site is the first "click" that is registered.  I try to only access other sites when I'm on my lunch break, unless it's a job-related site such as The Wall Street Journal, one of the "travel" sites (I make a lot of travel arrangements for my bosses) or TAA (the boss says TAA is good for my "professional development" -- way to go, Bossie!!       ).



If your company doesn't have it's own web page, perhaps you can select a another job-related site as your home page.  Many companies are cracking down on web access these days.  I guess with the economy the way it is, you can't really blame them.  After all, they do pay us to work and they have a right to expect a full days work for a full days pay.  As the Admin, you should set the example for others.  It's sometimes a thankless job, but it can bring positive results -- especially at annual review time.



Just my thoughts.  Hope they helped a little.



Energizer