04-20-2009, 02:15 AM
This shouldn't be difficult, folks. There are lots of existing policies out there to deal with this. I work for a county government here in central California, and here is our IT Services policy: http://www.co.kern.ca.us/cao/policy/07.pdf. The gist of the policy, for the purposes of this discussion, is Appendix B.
If you violate the policy, you are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination, and we all have to sign a piece of paper saying that we acknowledge that every year with our annual performance evaluation. We terminated a few employees that I'm aware of, just in my department, but that was in the beginning of the implementation of the policy (and employee access to the 'web), but I don't recall any problems in the last couple of years AFTER the terminations occurred.
I don't really see what the problem is. I need to use the internet in the course and scope of my work (spot Wx forecasts, situation reports, helicopter availability, equip't specs and purchases, etc.) If I'm stupid enough to gamble online, or browse porno sites, or download unlicensed software, or waste large amounts of my work time shopping or looking at properties on the Big Island, or whatever is not related to actually doing my job, then I'm inviting retribution. And I have enough integrity to accept that retribution as the cost of my own stupidity.
I believe that the vast majority of the county employees, at least in my county, do not abuse their internet privileges, and the ones who do, are generally dealt with. Not exactly sure how things work in the county of Hawai'i, but I suspect it's probably the same. If they haven't already, they are welcome to "cut and paste" a similar policy from lots of different sources. And then they have to actually enforce the policy, which is difficult in the beginning. Once employees understand the policy will actually be enforced, the policy becomes a lot easier to manage.
Aloha! ;-)
If you violate the policy, you are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination, and we all have to sign a piece of paper saying that we acknowledge that every year with our annual performance evaluation. We terminated a few employees that I'm aware of, just in my department, but that was in the beginning of the implementation of the policy (and employee access to the 'web), but I don't recall any problems in the last couple of years AFTER the terminations occurred.
I don't really see what the problem is. I need to use the internet in the course and scope of my work (spot Wx forecasts, situation reports, helicopter availability, equip't specs and purchases, etc.) If I'm stupid enough to gamble online, or browse porno sites, or download unlicensed software, or waste large amounts of my work time shopping or looking at properties on the Big Island, or whatever is not related to actually doing my job, then I'm inviting retribution. And I have enough integrity to accept that retribution as the cost of my own stupidity.
I believe that the vast majority of the county employees, at least in my county, do not abuse their internet privileges, and the ones who do, are generally dealt with. Not exactly sure how things work in the county of Hawai'i, but I suspect it's probably the same. If they haven't already, they are welcome to "cut and paste" a similar policy from lots of different sources. And then they have to actually enforce the policy, which is difficult in the beginning. Once employees understand the policy will actually be enforced, the policy becomes a lot easier to manage.
Aloha! ;-)
Aloha! ;-)