Mayor Bloomberg cracks down on Solitaire-playing employee

[Satisfaction 1]

"A NYC legislative office worker, ill-versed in "minimize" tactics, was fired after Mayor Michael Bloomberg spotted a game of Solitaire on the man's computer screen. Bloomberg had just completed a photo op with Edward Greenwood IX, the now unemployed office assistant, when he spotted the infamous time wasting application. Bloomberg later told Greenwood's supervisor to give him the ax.

When questioned about the incident, the mayor responded, "The workplace is not an appropriate place for games" In his defense, Greenwood, who had worked at the legislative office for six years and earned just $27,000, claimed that he only played Solitaire during his lunch hour or for brief bouts when he needed a break. But Bloomberg wasn't buying the excuse, commenting, "There's nothing wrong with taking a break, but during the business day, at your desk, that's not appropriate behavior."

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/10/mayor-bl...aying-employee/

[Peter Miami 0]

That is a no, no! Let me get back to my game. hahaha..

[m_and_m20 0]

What? I don't play games at work.........

[Bootylicious!! 2]

I don't play games at work. I just cruise VJ all day.

[Miranda&James 8]

If I didn't play games at work I'd be staring at a wall all day! Sometimes there really is just nothing to do.....

[almaty 19]

I don't play games at work. I just cruise VJ all day.

same here

[cmartyn 0]

Its amazing how often there is nothing real to do so we make ####### up to do which makes other people have to do stuff. Office work seems to be all about coming up with stuff for other people to do. If its a low cost activity so much the better management ignores no cost busy work for the most part since they are the ones who make up the most of it. I bet Bloomberg makes up piles of work to do . In fact, a quick boo at their website reveals many useless actibvities.

Todays headline is "Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Frieden Launch Outreach Campaign for Mothers Who Develop Diabetes During Pregnancy"

Ok, its not exactly solitair but damned close.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Todays headline is "Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Frieden Launch Outreach Campaign for Mothers Who Develop Diabetes During Pregnancy"

Ok, its not exactly solitair but damned close.

Yeah, but he's the boss so he gets away with it!

[daisy16 0]

It always amazes me how people can find the time to do such stuff at work. My husband says that this is the American way?

I've never had a job that gives me such free time. I"m lucky if I can find time to grab a bit to eat or go to the restroom.

[cmartyn 0]

Well, doing nothing is very tiring. Today, I wrote like 10 lines of code and then spent the rest of the day going through the Sarbox procedures required to get it into production. I never made it. Tommorow is another day.

Edited February 23, 2006 by cmartyn

[Jasman0717 9]

What? I don't play games at work.........

[Satisfaction 1]

Todays headline is "Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Frieden Launch Outreach Campaign for Mothers Who Develop Diabetes During Pregnancy"

Ok, its not exactly solitair but damned close.

What about "Campaign for Mothers who Don't Know if They Will Develop Diabetes During Pregnancy" LOL

[meddykomp 0]

It always amazes me how people can find the time to do such stuff at work. My husband says that this is the American way?

I've never had a job that gives me such free time. I"m lucky if I can find time to grab a bit to eat or go to the restroom.

I think it depends on the job. I am a technical support specialist. If everything is working I have nothing to do and I am allowed to play games or read VJ all day. Honestly my company would rather pay me for that because if I am busy with work, then it means something isnt working and our customers are not happy. They like for the customers to be happy.

[I'm Gone 60]

All our computers have had Solitaire removed. The Associate Commisionor came out with a memo a few weeks ago telling people no online banking or shopping except at break and lunch. Not sure if this was just a scare tactic or they will inforce it, but I was bidding on something on Ebay last week so I filled out a leave slip for 15 minutes each time I wanted to submit a bid. I wound up blowing an hour's leave when I could have been working for 50 minutes. The government way is screwing everyone instead of just going after the abusers.

[Donal78 0]

It always amazes me how people can find the time to do such stuff at work. My husband says that this is the American way?

I've never had a job that gives me such free time. I"m lucky if I can find time to grab a bit to eat or go to the restroom.

I think it depends on the job. I am a technical support specialist. If everything is working I have nothing to do and I am allowed to play games or read VJ all day. Honestly my company would rather pay me for that because if I am busy with work, then it means something isnt working and our customers are not happy. They like for the customers to be happy.

Cool thats what i do atm in ireland. I concur what the user says.If its busy i dont have time to play games,personally i dont play games but browse sites like VJ instead. I think the mayor went way over the top.

Do they not have a procedure for firing people in the states. Here its 3 strikes and your out so to speak. Sacking someone for playing solataire is pretty harsh unless the employee had a few warnings already.