Co-worker may get demoted for browsing the internet via Bloomberg terminal

[Dari]

He was visiting ESPN. In light of all the hacks going around I can understand the need to follow company policy. But it's a Bloomberg terminal. Not sure how that can affect the corporate network if he's using Bloomberg's internet access. And he was visiting espn.com, not espn.cn or espn.ru...

 

[Hugo Drax]

How do you get internet On it? I don't have any kind of internet on the terminal. Weird.

 

[holden j caufield]

this is company time and property. I think it's really harsh but if that's their policy he's got to follow it. Sucks they made an example of someone but espn is not a business function.

 

[Brovane]

He was visiting ESPN. In light of all the hacks going around I can understand the need to follow company policy. But it's a Bloomberg terminal. Not sure how that can affect the corporate network if he's using Bloomberg's internet access. And he was visiting espn.com, not espn.cn or espn.ru...

If it is really that big of a deal the site should be blocked. Web filtering software isn't that hard to implement. Especially if somebody is saying that going to a particular site can affect the corporate network. Several years ago IT leadership didn't want people streaming video or audio on the IT network. So they blocked streaming sites. It was as simple as that.

 

[olds]

He should be fired for having anything to do with the name "Bloomberg".

 

[Printer Bandit]

had to look up what a bloomberg terminal is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Terminal

 

[arkcom]

Nothing like checking out sports on a $20,000 a year computer.

 

[halik]

He was visiting ESPN. In light of all the hacks going around I can understand the need to follow company policy. But it's a Bloomberg terminal. Not sure how that can affect the corporate network if he's using Bloomberg's internet access. And he was visiting espn.com, not espn.cn or espn.ru...

If you're just using the browser on the box that's BB is on, it won't be going through the bloomberg network. Actually even within the BB app itself, I'm unsure whether that's hitting the BB network or just using whatever connection that's box's got.

 

[Dari]

If you're just using the browser on the box that's BB is on, it won't be going through the bloomberg network. Actually even within the BB app itself, I'm unsure whether that's hitting the BB network or just using whatever connection that's box's got.

You sure? He told one time that it was Bloomberg's network he was using to browse those sites. That allowed him to visit any site he wanted and not behind the firewall. I think there may be different types of Bloomberg services, including one that allows a direct connection to their network. I'm trying to understand how he got caught.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If it is really that big of a deal the site should be blocked. Web filtering software isn't that hard to implement. Especially if somebody is saying that going to a particular site can affect the corporate network. Several years ago IT leadership didn't want people streaming video or audio on the IT network. So they blocked streaming sites. It was as simple as that.

What's even simpler is exercising a shred of self-control and actually working while you're at work instead of surfing ESPN. It's not the assholes fault the company didn't protect him from himself. He knew the rules, he willfully violated them, he needs to deal with the consequences.

 

[SandEagle]

internet surfing during work hours improves employee morale and productivity.

 

[Dari]

What's even simpler is exercising a shred of self-control and actually working while you're at work instead of surfing ESPN. It's not the assholes fault the company didn't protect him from himself. He knew the rules, he willfully violated them, he needs to deal with the consequences.

Can you really do work for 8 hours straight? Sometimes people need some down time. My company allows us to work from home. A lot of people take advantage of that but it's hard to get promoted if the boss does not see you. Do you think those working from home are working 8 hours straight?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Can you really do work for 8 hours straight? Sometimes people need some down time. My company allows us to work from home. A lot of people take advantage of that but it's hard to get promoted if the boss does not see you. Do you think those working from home are working 8 hours straight?

That's bs, I routinely work ten hours straight often without a break. If you've got time to slack off obviously, you don't have enough to do. That's what you get working for a paycheck.

 

[JEDI]

He was visiting ESPN. In light of all the hacks going around I can understand the need to follow company policy. But it's a Bloomberg terminal. Not sure how that can affect the corporate network if he's using Bloomberg's internet access. And he was visiting espn.com, not espn.cn or espn.ru...

heh.. I used to play text based real time multiplayer games on dumb terminals.
everyone thought I was working hard constantly typing a mile a minute.
if they only knew...

 

[LegendKiller]

If you're just using the browser on the box that's BB is on, it won't be going through the bloomberg network. Actually even within the BB app itself, I'm unsure whether that's hitting the BB network or just using whatever connection that's box's got.

It works as a proxy server that *may* get around the firewall. They used to have Yahoo mail blocked at my work through browsers but you could get to it through bbg, they plugged that hole eventually.

Demoting somebody for doing that is pretty harsh.

Why not just use your phone?

I don't do anything through bbg but price bonds, run YTs, chat about bonds, scan markets, and read news. I don't even look up personal stocks on it.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I like the move. It sends a strong message without putting someone out of work.

I'm sure there are plenty of unemployed people who would take his job in a second and not dick around on company time.

 

[brianmanahan]

That's bs, I routinely work ten hours straight often without a break. If you've got time to slack off obviously, you don't have enough to do. That's what you get working for a paycheck.

i take a 5 minute break every couple hours

it helps me refocus and be way more productive than working heads down all day

and who doesn't work for a paycheck? there is no point to work without the payout.

 

[SSSnail]

What's more important is, how the hell does he find time to surf? And, most likely he'll be in a fishbowl, why even do it?

 

[holden j caufield]

it's a bit harsh, didn't know that's what it looked like. I think in that fast paced environment messing around on espn could take a few seconds and it could cost boatloads of money.

I sometimes have 4+ rdp sessions, ssh sessions, logged into a few esx servers and consoled to 8+ virtual machines, reading my emails, looking at all the alerts and sorting out the false positives, taking some calls, running some reports, running updates, taking care of some major requests.

If I did that for 4+ hours on end my brain would be fried. I'm able to do that and still browse atot. It definitely relaxes my mind so I can do the work of 2-3 people.

 

[DigDog]

had to look up what a bloomberg terminal is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Terminal

Model M clone by Unicomp. WOOT!!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Had to google what a Bloomberg terminal is. I was expecting more like a dumb terminal type device. This just looks like a standard computer that is somewhat customized with special software on it. I can understand the implications if they're that tight about not allowing web surfing. Though I've never been a huge fan of that kind of shot gun management, people should be able to surf the net a bit during down time provided they're actually doing their job.

I work at a NOC, it can go from dead quiet to the sky is falling, so the ability to be able to take it easy and surf the net during downtime is nice.

 

[OverVolt]

Its the fact that a Bloomberg Terminal is freaking expensive.

 

[brainhulk]

All he had to do was plug a wireless ap into the wall jack.../facepalm

 

[Hacp]

You nef on your phone or tablet at work not on a bloomberg terminal.

 

[edro]

I wouldn't want to work for a company that didn't turn a blind eye to a little web surfing.
If they are so uptight that you can't check ESPN for 5 min., or your personal webmail, they would be total assholes on everything else too.