Blocking Facebook

I'm new to this stuff, so please be patient with me, but instead of blocking port 22, couldn't you create up an Access Control List to block ssh going out?

It's not an access control list, I don't believe - it just blocks certain sites in certain hours.

I'd love to know what I'd have to spend to get a technical solution to this problem.

What some fail to note here is that if you don't want to can people because you're about to go into busy season, then a technical solution IS the best one.

Are you using something like a security device manager or straight up IOS? Sounds like SDM if you're not 100% sure if it's an ACL or not.

Are you blocking access to facebook, from facebook or both?

An RV042 doesn't have all that jazz. It's basically a home router pumped up on roids that allows you to shotgun two connections or use one as a backup for the other.

Wouldn't a note to everyone asking them to not surf facebook when they are working be slightly less douchie?

Okay. I just looked at the data sheet, andit doesn't look like it uses IOS, so I don't know.

It does mention an optional "Trend Micro ProtectLink Gateway Security Service". Is that what you're using to filter facebook?

I'm catching some serious "Generation Y" vibes from this thread.

But this type of attitude does point out a valid concern. Lots of companies are doing workshops trying to help older employees/employers and Generation Yers in the workforce deal with each other. Maybe you should like into that at some point.

It's not a "Gen Y" thing. It's an "evolution" thing. The workplace has been changing since the advent of the industrial revolution when people started trading their time for money.

Yeah. I'm hardly Gen Y...hell, I'm on the borderline between Gen X and Baby Boomers...But I totally agree w/ Jenee. It wasn't that long ago that I had bosses who considered "flex time" to be a "working mothers" issue. (I guess they LIKED sitting in Rush Hour traffic or something... ) Flex time, relaxed dress codes, giving employees the power to do their jobs in a way that they feel makes them the most efficient--these are all GOOD THINGS!

Bottom line is that the job needs to get done, of course. But that doesn't mean the office needs to have a sweatshop mentality. You want a place which people WANT to work at! Even in tougher economic times, it doesn't hurt to be an employee-friendly employer. Word gets around--you'll get better people applying, you'll retain workers longer, and the whole work-a-day experience will be better.

I understand that, but if you equate blocking facebook with a sweatshop, then that is the very definition of the Generation Y mentality.

Obviously, it's a bit of hyperbole. But apostle's whole attitude on the issue, based on his posts in this thread, SCREAMS of micromanagement.

Instead of saying "Hey, stay off FaceBook" or trusting his Manager to deal with the issue, he's freaking out and seeking technical solutions to a simple management issue. It's not so much that employees deserve FB access, as it is not seeing the forest for the trees. Bottom line--is the job getting done? If so, then what's the big deal about 5 minutes here & there spent on FB? If you still disagree, substitute "smoking a cigarette" for "spent on FB" and try it then... 'cause I'm guessing there are far more employees used to taking their smoke breaks than there are using FB at work. And the smoke break seems almost universally accepted....

I'm just saying....

I just don't understand why he's being so anal about it. Why does it matter so much what an employee does on his/her break or at lunchtime? And if he has knowledge that somebody is abusing the privilege, then blocking it is not going to solve anything. They will just find some other way to waste time.

Apostle, don't forget to remove solitaire from all of the computers as well, while you're at it.

There are dynamics in the office that I don't care to go into here, though I have alluded to them. Further, there are a lot of assumptions being made by people here that are laughable.

My people primarily work in a call center environment taking incoming phone calls. Distractions like FB impact their work, case closed.

O2C and Man Afraid of His Shoes have been the only helpful people here.

Everyone else is... trolling. In the wrong room. Nice to know I'm that important to you though.

I'm going to look into the Trend Micro Protection, shoes. Thanks.

Again, I understand what you're saying, but why's everyone busting his chops just for blocking facebook? Hell, I worked at a place that blocked all but work related access, and recorded and timed every single incoming and outgoing phone calls. Employees also had key fobs that logged when ever you left the office.

Also, I don't understand the "if you block it, they'll just find away around it" mentality. If that's the case, then why the hell would you think just asking them not to do it would have any effect?

You ever stopped to think that it might also be a security issue?

In what way?

link

Now, you're just enabling. You're giving him excuses. He's already said he doesn't want Facebook, not because of security, but because he's "bought" their time.

You have got to be kidding me.

possibly.

OK.

1) There have been studies that show that up to a significant percent of the day spent on social networking actually increases productivity and
2) You've got what, 16 people, and a manager to manage them, but you--as the owner--do the IT?

Why do you seem to find the latter harder to believe than the former?

Ok, here's the same thing coming from someone who was raised by two highly successful entrepreneurs and is a degreed management professional himself, with his own business in startup...

Chris is mostly right. Unless you can specifically ID organizational productivity problems that are being caused by them checking their facebook page, you'd be a fucking idiot to fuck with that privilege when it isn't necessary.

Let Skin share a memo with you that has worked for him in the past:

"Notice: Recreational use of the Internet on company time is deeply upsetting to Mr. Evil's Penis. Those who continue to use the Internet for recreational activities on company time will be required to explain themselves to Mr. Evil's Penis, face to face. That is all."

Even with the rather large out-of-court settlement, the resulting increase in productivity and newfound fear/respect gained was worth it.

If you're blocking Facebook without actual proof there's a problem, you're just being a dick for the sake of petty control.

He has supportive evidence for the former. The latter indicates a lack of management sense.

That's the very definition of my boss and, I believe, a big reason why he had it blocked at work for several months.

...and here it is. I was wondering if someone was going to actually say it.

Let me ask you something.

How the fuck do you know he doesn't have actual proof there's a problem?

He says he does.

How does the owner doing the IT indicate a lack of managerial sense?

Unless you're the owner of an IT company of that size, you're wasting your own time. Time you should be spending on the actual business of the company.