Sacked for excessive internet use !!

FATBALLZ

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Yes an odd word while you're working but that isn't really the issue here is it. FB said made the link between chatting to colleagues as being the same as using the internet for personal use which is totally wrong.

You're right actually, as since internet usage is generally a solo activity and chatting to colleagues involves other people, chatting to colleagues is at least twice as bad as you don't only stop yourself working but stop others working too.

DCFC79

Surely it doesnt need policies in place to tell you that internet use when you should be working is a no no, whether other people do it is up to them. Ifits needed for work puposes then yes not an issue but for personal use should be a no no.

What happened to the OP does seem a bit extreme though.

SarEl

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That would have to be a pretty draconian policy and assumes you work somewhere that gives you breaks.

And is also something of a red herring since that wasn't what the OP was dismissed for - no comparison. But there are workplaces where extraneous chat is not permitted. Try working in a target driven call centre and see what happens if you spend time chatting to the person on the next work station.

KiKi

pinkshoes wrote: »

I'd write to them and ask them for a copy of your signed contract showing the company internet policy, and where it quantifies excessive usage. I would also politely point out in the letter that in 7 years, your work is always done to a high standard with no complaints.

Re the internet usage policy, that probably won't be of any help. It seems that the company has been clever enough to go for falsifying of timesheets, not internet usage. It doesn't matter what they were doing that wasn't work - they weren't doing the work, but said on their timesheets that they were, and that's all that matters.

Re the length of time, that has no bearing on the allegation of falsifying timesheets, I'm afraid. If you have 25 years of amazing performance, with no complaints, then take £100 out of the till, your performance is irrelevant. Besides which, these things should have been brought up at the investigation or disciplinary, not mentioned afterwards. OP, did you do this?

The company have good grounds for gross misconduct, and the OP says they've been on the net 'a fair bit'. I take that to mean more than their lunch hour, ie, 2-3 hours a day.

I don't think there's anything wrong with checking your email each day, or chatting to a colleague when you get a coffee *if* your role and office allow for this. But if the company have followed the disciplinary procedures correctly, I can't see how it's unfair dismissal.

KiKi

Oldernotwiser

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Why do we need it pointed out that doing personal things on the internet are wrong? While at work that is all you should be doing other than emergencies.

I have a feeling that you don't have much experience of working in offices or on the telephone.

Oldernotwiser

SarEl wrote: »

And is also something of a red herring since that wasn't what the OP was dismissed for - no comparison. But there are workplaces where extraneous chat is not permitted. Try working in a target driven call centre and see what happens if you spend time chatting to the person on the next work station.

Call centres like that are pretty draconian.

KiKi

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That would have to be a pretty draconian policy and assumes you work somewhere that gives you breaks.

That depends where you work, though - obviously different roles and environments will have a significant impact. Where I used to work, chatting would have been fine, and in many office-based roles it will be acceptable. But if you work in a call centre, or a shared service centre, or a customer service centre then chatting and internet use could be seen as absolutely unacceptable.

Some workplaces do have draconian policies!

ETA - ah, cross-posted!!!

KiKi

starrystarry

I don't understand why some people think using the internet for personal stuff is acceptable at work. You wouldn't sit at your desk reading a book when you were supposed to be working so why should it be ok to read the internet?

The only difference is that if you read a book it's going to be obvious to everyone around you. So you wouldn't do it, because everyone would know you were skiving. Reading the internet is the same thing, just less visible.

FATBALLZ

SarEl wrote: »

And is also something of a red herring since that wasn't what the OP was dismissed for - no comparison. But there are workplaces where extraneous chat is not permitted. Try working in a target driven call centre and see what happens if you spend time chatting to the person on the next work station.

I've worked in more than one target driven call center.

People chatted about non work topics during 'work' time.

Nobody got fired.

DCFC79

My policy when i had a job is work when your meant too and if work requires you need to use the internet then do so as i know from last job using the internet would sometimes be required but as long as i used for work use when i should be working then there wasnt an issue. usint it for personal use when at lunch was fine since lunch is your time and not works time.