Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Abusing the system

My partner was sent home from work the other afternoon for ... well, we're not exactly sure what is was for as the three warnings about the inappropriate internet abuse that should have been sent before she was locked out of the network were lost in transit/never received. Inappropriate content in this instance appears to be streaming live audio and podcasts from the ABC (Australian government broadcaster) - definitely objectionable material. 0f course, the infraction could have related to the quantity accessed, not the subject matter. Apparently the internet useage policy was not discussed whcn she started the assignment, and certainly she would not have used the net for non-work purposes had she not been encouraged by a supervisor to "plug in and save your power". Had her portable device been an MP3 player rather than a radio, there wouldn't have been an issue.
Because a lock-out of the network meant she could not do her work, she had to miss two days while the system administrators reset her access. Why it took over so long to sort out is unfathomable; not sure if we should expect more or less because it is a Federal Government department!

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