Your IT department is ruining your March Madness fun

[Reerun_KC]

Quickest way to being replaced or outsourced is trying to pull this shit in my company... You block March madness for the employees you can kiss your job and ass goodbye.

****ing IT Nerds.


http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_...ch-madness-fun

By Allison Linn
It happens in offices around the country, around this time of year.
There you are, squinting at your computer, pretending to be oh-so-immersed in that spreadsheet, but what you’re really doing is waiting for the boss to leave so you can get back to watching March Madness on the other screen.
But why won’t the game load?
Blame the ITdepartment.
A new survey finds that about two-thirds of ITdepartments take some sort of action to block, ban or throttle non-work streaming content, including the March Madness college basketball tournament.
When it comes to March Madness specifically, four in 10 admit they monitor employees who try to access March Madness on their computers, in order to protect the company’s network.
That’s according to a survey of about 500 ITprofessionals conducted this February on behalf of Modis, an IT staffing firm that is part of Adecco.
Let’s be fair to the IT folks. They aren’t necessarily trying to keep you from keeping tabs on your bracket during the work day, but they are trying to keep your network running.
According to the Modis survey, four in 10 respondents said streaming content from the annual basketball tournament has had some impact on the company’s network, such as slowing or even shutting it down.
Most IT professionals surveyed said they block streaming content to make sure everyone can do their regular work without network disruptions. But the majority also said they do so to keep people from getting too distracted at work.
It’s not clear how much March Madness, which begins March 11, really distracts people from getting their work done.
Challenger, Gray and Christmas this year poked fun at its own assessment of how much game time takes away from company time, and even admitted no one’s likely going out of business because of a basketball tournament.
The outplacement firm’s advice: As with most things, March Madness should be viewed in moderation. At least while you’re at work.

[Braincase]

Not in my shop. And I'm planning my lab/break times to accomodate the KSU/KU fans on Thursday.

We embrace the Madness. Anyone not embracing the Madness will be nuthooked.

[Brock]

Don't work for Nazi companies.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Brock

Don't work for Nazi companies.

I work with companies at both extremes - it's not a coincidence who the leaders are and who aren't...

[Fish]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

How is turning away from your PC to check scores on your phone preferable to checking them on your PC?

Because checking scores on your phone doesn't use up unnecessary company bandwidth that is intended for work.

[journeyscarab]

Streaming audio via my cellphone. I won't use the video...not worth it in this job market but streaming audio doesnt cut into my productivity nor into the company's bandwidth. 9% unemployment ...keep that in mind folks!

[Bob Dole]

Bob Dole won't take any action until everyone's connection starts performing like 56k dialup.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They pay me for results. What I do to get those results is my business. The ends justify the means.

This, and I'm glad I work for a company that lets me work this way!

Love my job.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Because checking scores on your phone doesn't use up unnecessary company bandwidth that is intended for work.

It's still a hit to productivity. Moral equivalencies don't work here.

Either it's a waste of productivity or it's not.

Like I said, I consult for both types of company. It's not a coincidence who is largely successful and who isn't...

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

....If I'm a huge General Hospital fan....

You probably should not have mentioned that part.

[Deberg_1990]

Whats more important:

Trying to preserve your companies bandwidth, resources and productivity, or letting employees play games on company time?

[Fish]

Anyone who has actually had the responsibility of purchasing and maintaining a complex network infrastructure for any reasonably sized organization wouldn't think twice about a decision like this. It's easy for the users to say "Throw us a little bone, it isn't hurting anything." All the while, they're sitting in front of a company computer loaded with company software using company bandwidth for doing something that is not work related and can be distracting from doing actual work.

Maintaining balance and a happy work environment is certainly important. But there are countless ways to do that which would conform to company policy and not set a precedent that could be abused later. Because I know from experience that if you give the users an inch, they'll expect to take a mile next time. If you say "Ahh it's OK, go ahead and watch the game this once.", then Judy McLazyass down the hall hears about it and justifies watching Judge Joe Brown, because Bob gets to watch basketball. Then it snowballs to the point of slowing the network down. And at that point, people begin bitching at IT because they don't have enough bandwidth. Which of course is also IT's fault.

This may seem to the common user to be something minor and would never actually cause any harm. But I can tell you from experience that it adds up very quickly.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Anyone who has actually had the responsibility of purchasing and maintaining a complex network infrastructure for any reasonably sized organization wouldn't think twice about a decision like this. It's easy for the users to say "Throw us a little bone, it isn't hurting anything." All the while, they're sitting in front of a company computer loaded with company software using company bandwidth for doing something that is not work related and can be distracting from doing actual work.

Maintaining balance and a happy work environment is certainly important. But there are countless ways to do that which would conform to company policy and not set a precedent that could be abused later. Because I know from experience that if you give the users an inch, they'll expect to take a mile next time. If you say "Ahh it's OK, go ahead and watch the game this once.", then Judy McLazyass down the hall hears about it and justifies watching Judge Joe Brown, because Bob gets to watch basketball. Then it snowballs to the point of slowing the network down. And at that point, people begin bitching at IT because they don't have enough bandwidth. Which of course is also IT's fault.

This may seem to the common user to be something minor and would never actually cause any harm. But I can tell you from experience that it adds up very quickly.

One could de-prioritize CBS Sports streaming video in the network, allowing it to only consume X amount of bandwidth if no mission critical traffic is present, and not have to mandate anything to anyone.

[Pants]

Can they block people's personal cell phones? No? Well, there you have it.

[|Zach|]

Hard to blame a company for this.

It isn't always fun being my own boss but it works in these situations.

[1ChiefsDan]

Our company bans video and audio streaming 365. So not an issue during MM.

However, as the manager for our disaster response for North America, none of it is blocked on my system. I have to be able to catch news casts and weather radio all over the continent. I still don't watch games online. I do, however, put up ESPN if CBS Sports scoreboard and check periodically.