Comments on: What were you doing on….. Colin Ross? http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/ Still under development Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:23:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Political Penguin http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Political Penguin Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:20:20 +0000 /?p=146#comment-179 He does seem to have slowed his rate of posting down quite considerably compared to previous form. Also interesting to note that the only times he posts during the week are at out of normal working hours times and a couple at what one might consider to be lunchtime. Very strange that isn't it? He does seem to have slowed his rate of posting down quite considerably compared to previous form. Also interesting to note that the only times he posts during the week are at out of normal working hours times and a couple at what one might consider to be lunchtime.

Very strange that isn’t it?

]]> By: Bob Piper http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Bob Piper Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:26:50 +0000 /?p=146#comment-178 How very strange. Since you published this it seems Fat Col has found no time during the day to post at all... How very strange. Since you published this it seems Fat Col has found no time during the day to post at all…

]]> By: Political Penguin http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Political Penguin Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:28:26 +0000 /?p=146#comment-177 As you stated in your first comment, you know neither me or Colin Ross. Well, perhaps you might have a different perspective if you had been personally the target of attacks by LibDems who while trying to pretend they are the nice party, show a rather different side far too often in practice. On that basis I have no problem whatsoever in drawing people's attention to their hypocrisy, double-standards and general screw-ups whenever I feel like it. As you stated in your first comment, you know neither me or Colin Ross.
Well, perhaps you might have a different perspective if you had been personally the target of attacks by LibDems who while trying to pretend they are the nice party, show a rather different side far too often in practice.
On that basis I have no problem whatsoever in drawing people’s attention to their hypocrisy, double-standards and general screw-ups whenever I feel like it.

]]> By: SteB http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-176 SteB Sat, 24 Mar 2007 06:15:33 +0000 /?p=146#comment-176 I agree entirely with your last paragraph - if this was the real point you were trying to make then perhaps this is what should have been said, rather than the approach that you did take in your original post? I agree entirely with your last paragraph – if this was the real point you were trying to make then perhaps this is what should have been said, rather than the approach that you did take in your original post?

]]> By: Political Penguin http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Political Penguin Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:54:58 +0000 /?p=146#comment-175 Thanks for the comment SteB. As you'll see Colin's posting times are pretty spread out across the working day. He'd have to have some very strange working hours for that to be a legitimate excuse. Secondly and I think you may have missed my point on this one. I've been aware of Colin posting during what would normally be considered working hours for the past few months and had chose not to post on it. However when I noticed that Walsall MBC was going to introduce this policy and you'll see by the article they appear to be taking a pretty hard line on the issue with threats of sackings I contacted the council to enquire about the new system, when it would be implemented and what scope there was for it's introduction retrospectively. Now from what I was told the policy has not been implemented yet although it is due to be very soon, they may wish to try and take action against employees retrospectively but as it appears Walsall MBC has no current 'acceptable terms of usage' policy for IT equipment then I'd hazard a guess any employee whom action is taken against for previous breaches of the new code would have a fairly good case in tribunal. After all how can an employee be sacked for doing something that wasn't against the rules? There are of course exceptions. If their activity online falls into areas of gross dereliction of duty etc etc but we won't go there. By highlighting this issue and almost certainly bringing it to the attention of Mr Ross I quite possibly may have saved him from the sack or at least maybe got him off with a warning assuming he doesn't continue his practice of posting during what would be considered his hours of work from his works computer. Now if I'd really wished to be a nasty git then I would have kept quiet. Waited for the policy to be introduced then picked a time that might be most politically damaging like a few weeks before the local elections in May and then released it. My personal view having been in various positions including supervisory and management is that I don't go for these draconian employment policies. I've always believed that as long as an employee gets their job done then I really wouldn't give a toss if the spent half the day chatting on MSN or looking up whatever on the internet. So personally I think Walsall Council is implementing a policy which I wouldn't agree with, both on the basis of it being a bit too overbearing and from the perspective of enforcement, very bloody difficult to achieve for which the only ones who will get caught are probably those who get ratted on by workmates who they've fallen out with. Not a happy environment in which to work I'm sure. Thanks for the comment SteB. As you’ll see Colin’s posting times are pretty spread out across the working day. He’d have to have some very strange working hours for that to be a legitimate excuse.
Secondly and I think you may have missed my point on this one. I’ve been aware of Colin posting during what would normally be considered working hours for the past few months and had chose not to post on it.
However when I noticed that Walsall MBC was going to introduce this policy and you’ll see by the article they appear to be taking a pretty hard line on the issue with threats of sackings I contacted the council to enquire about the new system, when it would be implemented and what scope there was for it’s introduction retrospectively.
Now from what I was told the policy has not been implemented yet although it is due to be very soon, they may wish to try and take action against employees retrospectively but as it appears Walsall MBC has no current ‘acceptable terms of usage’ policy for IT equipment then I’d hazard a guess any employee whom action is taken against for previous breaches of the new code would have a fairly good case in tribunal.
After all how can an employee be sacked for doing something that wasn’t against the rules? There are of course exceptions. If their activity online falls into areas of gross dereliction of duty etc etc but we won’t go there.
By highlighting this issue and almost certainly bringing it to the attention of Mr Ross I quite possibly may have saved him from the sack or at least maybe got him off with a warning assuming he doesn’t continue his practice of posting during what would be considered his hours of work from his works computer.
Now if I’d really wished to be a nasty git then I would have kept quiet. Waited for the policy to be introduced then picked a time that might be most politically damaging like a few weeks before the local elections in May and then released it.
My personal view having been in various positions including supervisory and management is that I don’t go for these draconian employment policies.
I’ve always believed that as long as an employee gets their job done then I really wouldn’t give a toss if the spent half the day chatting on MSN or looking up whatever on the internet.
So personally I think Walsall Council is implementing a policy which I wouldn’t agree with, both on the basis of it being a bit too overbearing and from the perspective of enforcement, very bloody difficult to achieve for which the only ones who will get caught are probably those who get ratted on by workmates who they’ve fallen out with. Not a happy environment in which to work I’m sure.

]]> By: SteB http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-174 SteB Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:11:23 +0000 /?p=146#comment-174 Maybe Mr Ross does additional hours at work, either a) before his scheduled start time; or b) after the end of the working day......I don't know either of you, but stop being so damn petty.....what next, loitering too long at the coffee machine; walking at too slow a pace on your way back from the khazi? Grow up. Maybe Mr Ross does additional hours at work, either a) before his scheduled start time; or b) after the end of the working day……I don’t know either of you, but stop being so damn petty…..what next, loitering too long at the coffee machine; walking at too slow a pace on your way back from the khazi?

Grow up.

]]> By: Political Penguin http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Political Penguin Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:47:06 +0000 /?p=146#comment-173 Who can tell Paul, but as I've been getting quite a few hits from Walsall Council as of late, who knows checking up on Colin's activities. Perhaps it's time I put in an official complaint. Of course as a concerned resident of Walsall who wouldn't wish for their procedures and practices regulations to be abused? Who can tell Paul, but as I’ve been getting quite a few hits from Walsall Council as of late, who knows checking up on Colin’s activities.

Perhaps it’s time I put in an official complaint. Of course as a concerned resident of Walsall who wouldn’t wish for their procedures and practices regulations to be abused?

]]> By: Paul Macmanomy http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/03/what-were-you-doing-on-colin-ross/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Paul Macmanomy Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:54:17 +0000 /?p=146#comment-172 I can only assume that his employer has approved his activities and therefore endorses his views and opinions? I can only assume that his employer has approved his activities and therefore endorses his views and opinions?

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