KU Your IT department is ruining your March Madness fun - Page 2

Reerun_KC · 03-05-2012, 12:45 PM

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.

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I think I read somewhere that tournament games won't be played at 3am this year.

No but if I'm working at 3am on Saturday, I'm NOT working at 3pm on Thursday afternoon.

**007** · 03-05-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

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

The only way anyone should be watching TV at work is if the company allows it.

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Then you do your job at 3am on Saturday or 15 hours a day.... why would the time of day or length of shift make any difference?

If I'm a huge General Hospital fan, should I be allowed to watch it at work just because it's on at 1pm during my shift?

The fact that you mentioned your "shift" means you missed the point.

Employers expect more and more productivity, regardless of what personal sacrifices are made by the employee. When it comes time for said employee to "get a little back", the corporation puts the squash on it. At some point, there it becomes a diminishing return.

An unhappy employee base is not a productive employee base.

Fish · 03-05-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

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

It's just as much about using company resources for non work related stuff as it is you producing your results in a timely manner.

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

The only way anyone should be watching TV at work is if the company allows it.

If said employee is meeting their performance objectives and other employees are not being prevented from achieving theirs because of said employee, the company should stay out of it.

Demonpenz · 03-05-2012, 01:41 PM

I make it a strict point to weed out general hospital fans in the hiring process and 80's all my childrens fans as well
**** TAD!

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

It's just as much about using company resources for non work related stuff as it is you producing your results.

They don't want you to use company resources for non-work activity yet they want you to use your company resources 24x7x365. Get the trend there?

It's called balance. Give and take. But there's a reason so many of the Fortune 500 are corporate cesspools of greed, corruption, and employee morale issues.

kaplin42 · 03-05-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

What if said company wants you to do your job at 3am on Saturday or 15 hours a day?

It's not as black and white as you think...

LOL.

You're at work. Unless you get paid to watch TV, Movies, Sports, Netflix then its pretty clear how black an white it is. Do your job, check the scores on your phone.

Fish · 03-05-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The fact that you mentioned your "shift" means you missed the point.

Employers expect more and more productivity, regardless of what personal sacrifices are made by the employee. When it comes time for said employee to "get a little back", the corporation puts the squash on it. At some point, there it becomes a diminishing return.

An unhappy employee base is not a productive employee base.

I don't think that violating company policy by using company resources for non work related activities is the ideal way to keep an employee base happy. I think that sets a pretty poor example. A high end car dealership wouldn't let Joe Blow car salesman take a joyride in a Porche just because it would be a great way to keep him happy on the job.

**Predarat** · 03-05-2012, 01:47 PM

My March Madness is already ruined thanks to the MTSU Blew It Again Raiders.

Hydrae · 03-05-2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

I make it a strict point to weed out general hospital fans in the hiring process and 80's all my childrens fans as well
**** TAD!

I am a little concerned that you know the name of one of the characters.

**Bearcat** · 03-05-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

No but if I'm working at 3am on Saturday, I'm NOT working at 3pm on Thursday afternoon.

Yay?

I've worked undesirable shifts and hours, and I think most IT people would shrug if I told them I was missing a basketball game because of work. If I'm working 15 hours a day, I sure as hell don't have time to watch sports... if I'm working a night shift or whatever, there's a specific reason for being there. I have pretty flexible hours now, so whatever I don't get done while responding to this post, I'll get done when I get home or whatever, but I still wouldn't just sit at work and watch BB.

I think the only gray area is if it's during a time of low network usage, and it's generally okay to browse the internet or read a book or whatever during a shift... like IT support during off-peak hours or security or something. If it's not going to cause any network issues and your manager understands there's time when you won't be doing anything productive, I don't know why it would be an issue.

Get a DVR or take a vacation day/half day.

Rasputin · 03-05-2012, 01:55 PM

This affects me

not.

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaplin42

LOL.

You're at work. Unless you get paid to watch TV, Movies, Sports, Netflix then its pretty clear how black an white it is. Do your job, check the scores on your phone.

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

htismaqe · 03-05-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I don't think that violating company policy by using company resources for non work related activities is the ideal way to keep an employee base happy. I think that sets a pretty poor example. A high end car dealership wouldn't let Joe Blow car salesman take a joyride in a Porche just because it would be a great way to keep him happy on the job.

If it's not a company policy, then there's no violation is there? Again, it seems you've missed the point.

03-05-2012, 12:45 PM
Reerun_KC Rock Chalk Jayhawks! KU!!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $8301160	Your IT department is ruining your March Madness fun 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.
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03-05-2012, 01:41 PM	#21
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3152136	I make it a strict point to weed out general hospital fans in the hiring process and 80's all my childrens fans as well **** TAD! __________________
Posts: 54,266

03-05-2012, 01:47 PM	#25
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9973863	My March Madness is already ruined thanks to the MTSU Blew It Again Raiders.
Posts: 10,776

03-05-2012, 01:55 PM	#28
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3505421	This affects me not. __________________ A Brave Man Once Requested Me To Answer Questions That Are Key 'Is It To Be Or Not To Be' And I Replied Oh Why Ask Me
Posts: 54,959