Inter Lake editorial
Unbelievable!
The story on the front page of the Daily Inter Lake Tuesday about state workers and computer games seemed like an April Fool's joke, but unfortunately it was no laughing matter.
Turns out that some employees of the Department of Public Health and Human Services had been complaining that their new computers didn't have some of the high-tech features they were used to - like electronic versions of solitaire, hearts and minesweeper games. It didn't seem fair to them that employees with older computers still got to goof off during working hours while the folks with the newer computers were expected to actually do their jobs.
Hold on there. It has to be an April Fool's joke.
Oops, no, sorry to say this really happened. And it gets worse.
Lonnie Olson, administrator of the Child Support Enforcement Division, fielded the complaints about the missing computer games and realized that something wasn't quite right. Unfortunately, he was wrong about what wasn't right.
"I said if they want them [computer games], we'll put them on," Olson said in an Associated Press story. According to the article, Olson said (presumably with a straight face) that "he wanted to make sure all employees in the department are treated the same."
He then went on to say that "he wasn't aware of anyone abusing the privilege during work hours."
Turns out that the joke is on the taxpayers. Most of us didn't even know that our state employees had a privilege of playing games during work hours, but at least no one is abusing it.
Please. This just has to be a joke!
Even the head of the state's Computing Technology Services Bureau got it wrong. He was quoted as saying it was "up to each department director to decide what to do about … computer games."
Um, no, not exactly. Thanks to a reporter's query, someone actually took a look at state policy and discovered that, "State computing resources are not to be used for non-state related activities, including games or software that is not required for an employee's job responsibilities."
Finally, at the end, a bit of sanity emerged in the story. Sheryl Olson, deputy director of the Department of Administration, which adopted the policy in 2001, said, "the broader policy is nobody should be playing games on state computers. We're at work to work. Why is this even a question? Who has time to play games?"
That is a question which perhaps deserves a broader investigation. Since the state employees were so brazen in making their request for computer games, we have to think they had plenty of time to play games in the past, and were confused about how to fill that time in the future.
Sounds like a good opportunity for budget cutting. With games having now been removed from the computers of more than 3,000 state employees, we suspect a more productive work force will result.
Hypothetically, if each employee had been spending an average of 10 minutes a day playing computer games, that would mean at least 2,500 hours a week of lost productivity or the equivalent of about 62.5 full-time jobs.
No one expects the state to cut 62.5 jobs as a result of this boon, but how about we split the difference and say 30 jobs. OK, maybe that is unrealistic. This is state government after all - let's just say five jobs.
And, by the way, we are not joking.
herefornow
Obviously JMO you didn't work the job I did. I was expected to leave immediately when we had a call out. It didn't matter if I was in the middle of a break OR taking a lunch break. I was on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week and expected to pick up the phone when it rang at 2am or I was reamed if I didn't. Some employess did't take the job as serious as I did and didn't take the calls. AND maybe they did play solitaire on clocked in time. Those employees have to live with themselves. It is just something that I could never do and most that I worked with didn't either. I am just saying, don't judge all State employees by the few that are slackers.
herefornow
By the way, if you are suggesting cutting jobs, well in certain State positions, just for your info, in the department I worked in, we were underpaid, over worked and under staffed by a minimum of 5 employees. Job turn over was incredible mostly due to the load of the job. I finally quit due the affect the stress was having on me emotionally and physically. Please don't bunch a few slackers in with dedicated hardworking under appreciated employees.
JMO
If a state employee wants to "escape" for a few minutes, let them get up from their desk and walk around, go outside, get a breath of fresh air. You are entitled to breaks, if you choose not to take them, your decision.
Appollinaris
herefornow: Everyone in Montana is overworked and underpaid. That's just part of living in Montana. If you don't like it, quit complaining and move to another state. It is the law for employees to allow breaks during the day. As JMO stated, if you did not take them, it is because you chose not to.
MontanaJim72
Having dealt with Child Support Enforcement over the years, it would not surprise me if the employees there spend time playing computer games. They are generally at least 2 months behind in their work, (although they manage to get out orders for withholding child support from paychecks out in just a few days). If you want to eliminate waste in state government, get rid of this department and put it back with the courts where it belongs. This department is a drain on the state taxpayers that we don't need.
Garyt
It makes me wonder, if state employees have the time to play games on their computers there probably are too many people working for the state? Maybe they should be transferred to departments that are shorthanded or released. I worked for the government 20 years and I didn't have time to do much of anything else except my job. From the way this article sounds, I was the exception not the rule.
herefornow
You dont get my point. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO TAKE A BREAK. And I am not complaining about the pay or the work here in MT. Stop the tirade and the holier that thou comments about leaving MT...please. I have lived here longer than most and plan on staying here despite the pay! Anyway, I loved my job with the state and I was sad to leave it because I was dedicated to it and good at it. However, I could no longer continue with the stress of the job. Physically it was killing me. I was very lucky to land a job that I love as well and the stress load is managable and I can go home and not dream about all the cases I didn't get to that day. You who don't walk in the shoes of these hard working under appreciated workers in my former department. (left unnamed because naming the dept would open another tirade of ignorant un-informed comments).
herefornow
Rob, you are right, there are too many "higher ups" that make the little guys job harder and more difficult to do. The red tape is over whelming. Give the workers a pay raise or hire MORE workers where it is needed and minimize the bureaucrats. Alot more would get done where it is needed.
JMO
NO time to take a break? Please. You simply say, break time and get up and walk away. I have a very busy job too and sometimes I choose to skip it. But it is a choice. Sometimes I take an extra break (with my supervisor approving) on those days that it is overwhelmingly busy. I take my job very seriously and put 100% in to it. and yes HEREFORNOW, you are complaining. Employees, any employees, should not be gaming during work, or surfing the web shopping, etc.