I've officially justified reading the SDMB at work.

More specifically, my boss removed my internet “quota” on sites that our corporate filter has flagged as inappropriate for the workplace. SDMB is considered a “chat” site by our software. That means I can still get through the filter and visit, but if I stay more than a 60 minute quota (over the course of a week, I think), a flag is thrown and my boss is sent an email.

That’s happened several times, as I’m often on the web looking at products and services for our department, and “shopping” sites are another flagged type by our software.

The last time she called me in about this, I showed her two two different GQ questions I posted about MS Excel that were directly related to my planning duties at work. She already knew about the work I’d done, and I’d even told her that I’d posted questions on the web, but she hadn’t made the connection between the two.

Anyway, she has directed the IS people to take me off the quota list and stop bothering her with the emails.

Awesome. I’d bet you’re very unique though. At jobs where I browsed and posted on the dope I’d’ve been pretty damn screwed if I was ever called out on it :).

Damn!

Guess I’m just lucky so far but there have been *zero[/ i]attempts by any of my employers to restrict where I browse, and I also always supply my own computer.

I’ll have to make sure and bring this whole mess up if and when I ever interview for another job. I can accept restrictions based on using up their bandwidth, but if that’s the argument they make they’re going to have to allow me to Timbuktu into a home computer from which I can browse or do other non-work-related things.