[ale] OT: Well it is going to hit the list sooner or later.

[Jim Philips]

On Sunday 01 August 2004 01:22, Adrin wrote:
> http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/04/08/01/022255.shtml?tid=123&tid=172&tid=103
>
>
> Vernon Blake, an IT sysadmin for the Alabama Department Of Transportation,
> wanted to get evidence that his boss spent the majority of his time playing
> solitaire on his computer. Since emails to higher up supervisors were
> ignored, he installed Win-Spy, which grabbed screenshots several times per
> day over a period of 7 months. 70% of the resulting screenshots showed an
> active game of solitaire, and another 20% showed his boss checking the
> stock market. When he reported this to superiors, he was fired, even though
> he had 21 years of service in the position. His boss got a reprimand to
> 'stop playing games'. He is appealing his termination in court since he
> claims it was part of his job description to 'confirm and document'
> computer misuse for ALDOT.
>
>
> Hi Story  http://www.aldotwaste.com/
>
>
> Now we need a poll.    Was he right or wrong?  Couldn't he have blocked the
> websites and removed solitaire? Then played dumb as to why they didn't
> work. (j/k)

There is such a thing as doing your job too well. Common sense says you should 
think twice--and more!--before going over your boss's head. Even in the 
federal government, where the Whistle-blower Act is supposed to be in effect, 
you can still get screwed. There was the recent case of an FBI translator who 
reported sloppy translations, because she felt like it was hurting 
investigative work. She was terminated. Now that she has sued under the 
Whistleblower Act, the DOJ has just classified all documents that could prove 
her case. 

We have contradictory rules in our workplaces:

1. be honest
2. make your team look good

If rule #1 conflicts with rule #2, then lie your ass off.
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