Now Im Mad

[scrutch]

A question. For those who think surfing the web is OK when you are on the company's dime, ponder this.

You hire a plumber, electrician, carpenter, or whatever to do a job for you, and they charge by the hour. How would you react if you found them surfing the web, and charging you for that time? But, but, but, don't you know they produce more than they would in that eight hour day if they didn't have that down time to relax, refresh, and recharge their batteries.

I must admit, I'm stunned that some employers not only tolerate, but actually encourage surfing the web on company time.

Tom, aren't you at work right now?

[clayton86]

Detroit its fine I know my english sucks always has all threw school its called a learning disability. By no means does it mean I'm dumb so what I can't spell the best and I don't break my posts up into fancy paragraphs. This is why I went to a techschool and chose hands on fields of work I knew I couldent do a desk job I work with my hands even as a teachers aide we mostly tear down engines from top to bottom and weld broken farm equipment. Even in the military I got a 92 on my asvab able to do what ever I want and I chose infantry so yeah when deployed I do get shot at often.

[SirSnookalot]

My suggestion to anyone that is working as an employee is never to over rate yourself and the value you bring to the company, your position can change in an eye blink. New department head coming in, a merger and your job is a duplicate, the list is endless of situations that can cause a change in your job description or employment, don't be over confident as " you are the man "......you are not. The only " man" is the one writing the checks.

Many of the old guard are retired, we have already done what many younger people are aspiring to do. I'm sure down the list each one of us has both extremely high moments as well as hitting rock bottom and would agree that when cockiness sets in that is the time one can get humbled in a moment, don't take anything for granted.

[Fishing Rhino]

Tom, aren't you at work right now?

At work? What's that? I've worked for myself since 1972. First making tall clock cases, then as a commercial lobsterman, and after that making fiberglass race car bodies. I'm no longer actively seeking customers. I do what comes along as a way of making some extra walking around cash.

Whatever I've done since '72 has been on my own time. If someone wants to run their own life, I suggest they work for themselves, not someone else. Lobstering was the best. I had no customers, and I wasn't accountable to anyone regarding getting product out on any type of timetable.

When I caught lobsters, I'd bring them to the dealer, and walk out with a check that did not bounce. He never asked me to fish on any particular day, or bring him X number of pounds of lobsters. He took whatever I brought to him, whenever I got in, even if it was three in the afternoon or in the morning.

I'll be 70 years old, married 46 years to the same woman this year. We have no mortgage, no need to prove ourselves to anyone in order to advance. Those years are behind us. I speak from many years of living experience, seeing and understanding what it takes to get promotions in one's chosen career field.

Believe this, I've never seen an employer who promotes an employee that doesn't put in extra effort to get the job done to the best of their ability. In the world of competition, you get ahead by producing a better product or service at the same price, or producing a product or service of equal quality at a better price. It's just that simple.

I have a bit of insight into the thought and study you've put into learning, understanding, and interpreting what is on the display screen of your sonar. It's what needs to be done to maximize the potential of that gadget. It's also what needs to be done to maximize the potential of an individual's abilities in their own lives in whatever the endeavor, work or play.

[J Francho]

I guess in some people's eyes, I'll look like a thief. Funny, I don't consider it stealing when my employer wakes me up at 3:00 AM on a weekend because systems are down, and they need me to fix it. That's just part of the job. Since I am salary exempt, I don't get paid extra for that, and there's no such thing as "comp time." On the flip side, when my kids get hurt, and need to go to the doctor, my boss says, "Just go, and hurry!" He doesn't deduct that time. In the end, the people that do not produce are weeded out.

As far as letting employees browse the internet at work, back when I ran a small retail pet shop with 25 employees, I set aside time for them to surf the net, and learn about new husbandry techniques, find new sources for livestock, and read up on new products. In the late 90s, the internet was a huge teaching opportunity, funny thing was, they thought they were getting paid to "play."

[Fishing Rhino]

I guess in some people's eyes, I'll look like a thief. Funny, I don't consider it stealing when my employer wakes me up at 3:00 AM on a weekend because systems are down, and they need me to fix it. That's just part of the job. Since I am salary exempt, I don't get paid extra for that, and there's no such thing as "comp time." On the flip side, when my kids get hurt, and need to go to the doctor, my boss says, "Just go, and hurry!" He doesn't deduct that time. In the end, the people that do not produce are weeded out.

As far as letting employees browse the internet at work, back when I ran a small retail pet shop with 25 employees, I set aside time for them to surf the net, and learn about new husbandry techniques, find new sources for livestock, and read up on new products. In the late 90s, the internet was a huge teaching opportunity, funny thing was, they thought they were getting paid to "play."

Not at all do you look like a thief. You and your employer have mutually agreed upon terms of service. If he is satisfied with your performance, and you are satisfied with your job, all is good, and it's nobody's place to criticize.

[Fisher of Men]

Clayton,

Do you ever think about getting your alternative teaching certification in Auto tech or other related vocational field and getting paid a full time teacher's salary? You're experience as an aide in the field should help you get a job (or could be a foot in the door there where you work).

[clayton86]

Fisher I have thought of it and looked into its in the back of mind but I'm not sure if I can deal with kids for that long lol. Right now the plan is to deploy and when I return reclass over to the blackhawk and chinook wing in rochester get out of the infantry and become a heli mechanic and use my contacts to land a AGR job. That gives me all the active duty benifits the knowledge and know how to work on choppers in the civilian world when I retire from the army at 41 when I get my 20 year letter. Now if that falls threw getting a AGR possition ill probably go that route or border patrol maybe even the police force.