Watching the Social Net

I'd say standards already do and have existed. Certainly employees have long known they ought not be spouting off about company secrets, on or off duty.

Other than that sort of thing I'd not think an employer has any rights over an individuals free time, and how they use it.

I do not use any of the social networks. Read the TOS on all of them and you will find that they can use any and all of the ideas that you discuss with others over their service, without limitation and with no time limit, without compensation to you. If they want my IP, then pay me for it.

"I do not use any of the social networks."

Ahhh... But you just did, by posting here.

Businesses pay dearly for the electronic communication services that are used by those who have access at work and at home.

On Monday all kinds of e-mail and other traffic loads down the net due to all those reports going around. We could hardly get in the queue to get our real work done due to the combined report load and virtual high fives.

The individual at home should have their own service and the ability to log into the company portal for work related stuff and timekeeping for work done from home.

That's how my database administrator is able to put out "fires" without having to drive to work and back after hours and weekends.

Using company net resources for personal use is stealing from the company. It is one of the things they can put on the list to use to get rid of you during downsizing.

Jon

problems with social networking, at least with engineers, is that they forget who they are working for.

They build up their network and to keep their network strong and network buddies happy, is by their employers expense. And after they burned out the employers patience and pocketbook they just move on.

I have found that engineers that have customers/clients that follow them, are the ones to be very wary and cautious. The reason is not that they service the customer/client, (Which is sometimes the case) but that the customer/client has an inside track at the business owners expense/loss.

And that can be difficult to differentiate.

p911

It is also prosecutable

Safeguarding proprietary information.

Jon

Intellectual Properties is one thing, that is easier to define.

But there is a engineer that comes to mind, who worked at a number of companies and had a client that followed him. This engineer had bragged to me that one of his network buddies who was a client/customer was so strong, one time he under bid a project by about $7,000.00 on a $30,000.00 project (which is a loss ), and got the contract. he bragged to me that his network bud told him that he can make it up on the next contract. I told him bulls#it.

He said no his network is strong. I asked when did this happen? His reply was about 9 months ago.

I then asked how many project did you get from him since? He mentioned about (2)-(3).

Then I asked did you make it up by over charging to make up on the losses, or did you break even on the new projects.

He did not answer. I later worked for this company and had looked up his work because he was leaving a trail of broken companies, including this one that hired me.

Well in my opinion his work was fraud, (the assistant District Attorney felt the same way) but it could also be construed as incompetence which is hard to get results to address legally.

Now I came from the era when they weren't called networks, but contacts. And yes we traded. But one thing I have always done was trade away information that had little value to the company (it was public domain material but I had it) for something of value to the company I worked for. And this was with the president knowledge prior. (this we had debated on the value of the information I traded with)

And most of this was to vendors and not customers of the company. And the new information was the companies I worked for, not for personal gain to store and guard in my network.

And when people talk about networking, and how they go about it. At times I want to place swift kick with my foot right up their arse, (but i probably lose my shoe.)

p911

The best network consists of people who you can call, set up a lunch appt, and shake their hand afterwards.

No, I would disagree, not for pofessional networking. Sure its nice to see the face behind the voice. And eventually you do meet up.

This engineer has personally contact with his network buddies. Too personal, And I would say its a matter of time that he goes to the well one time too many for his buds.

For a large contract, I believe the people "in-charge" should have a official "sit-down" conference to put some icing on the contract, and make sure all question have been properly ironed out. (geographical exemptions allowed, in most cases)

I've used Teleconferences, Video Conferences, Internet meeting rooms, etc etc etc... but nothing quite compares to doing real business with real people in real places. And I still think a good handshake says a lot about a person.

-In my opinion-

RVZ717

skype is great.....you have to realize this occurred a few years back.

And I still think a good handshake says a lot about a person.

A good handshake means jacks#it. Its standing behind that handshake that had meaning

Some people talk that way, I for one was one of them, and I paid the price for it. Others talk that way also, until it doesn't go their way.

Now I tend to play it safe and smart. No need to leave yourself open.

p911

All the old traditions can still be done and then followed up on paper when everyone is sober.

Jon

Sober? Awww... your sucking all the fun out of it.

Like anything else, it's only as good as the people using it.

I wouldn't object to a company's stance on not using company equipment for personal use except at designated break times if it wasn't for the plethora of smokers hanging out behind offices.

They aren't getting any work done either and I'd bet their paycheck to mine that paying a bill takes less time and distracts a worker less than thinking about their next smoke break with their buddies does.

Weirdest discrimination I've ever seen frankly.

Mini,

Those sneaky smokers!

A large company I know made a shelter for smokers and put them on an honor system for making up the time away from their work for smoking or other unscheduled breaks.

Jon