Vermont Senate bans monitoring of workers' Web watching

[The Straight Story]

Senate bans monitoring of workers' Web watching


MONTPELIER – Senate lawmakers have voted to halt the Douglas administration's plans to monitor the Web viewing habits of thousands of state employees.

In a unanimous voice vote Tuesday, the Senate approved an amendment, attached to the budget bill, that would forbid human resources managers from tracking the Internet activity of Vermont employees working on state-owned computers.

Sen. Vince Illuzzi, who authored the provision, said the vote reflected legislators' concerns over the privacy of state workers.

"Just as we hold back government when it comes to the intrusion of homes and lives of people, we're simply applying that same standard to government itself with regard to its workers," Illuzzi said Wednesday.

Commissioner of Human Resources Caroline Earle said the Douglas administration will oppose the language and look to have it stricken from the budget when both the House and Senate iron out final details in a committee of conference.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100429/NEWS03/4290369/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Well, if you're using their computers and Internet and are being paid to work for them...I think

they have the right.

[LiberalFighter]

2. There should be some monitoring.

They should at a minimum attempt as best as possible to block any involving commercial sex sites.

It would help if all commercial sex sites were required their website to begin with xxx instead of www or instead of .org .com or any other domain indicator.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Those computers, and the hours that the workers spend on them, don't belong to the employees.

[NYC Liberal]

4. How far would you go in claiming they have the power?

If you log in to your personal email account at work, should they be able to capture the password (that you typed in on their computer) and read all of your personal emails?

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. I'd hang a sign from every monitor:

"Don't do personal shit here."

[Abq_Sarah]

6. I wouldn't go that far

But general usage (time online) should be tracked and if the employee isn't getting their work done, it can be used for disciplinary purposes.

And yes, block "adult" sites. No one should be surfing porn or visiting gambling sites on the public dime.