Sensitive Topic, Need advice

[Bri]

I really hope it has a speedy and discreet outcome!

Usually is!!!

Get a grip....

I think he was making the effort!!!

I'm surprised one of them didn't hear the other one coming.

Some people just set themselves up for double entendres!!!


And on a serious note, now that the reporter and reportee have both posted on a public forum blows any disciplinary out of the water............................

 

[JamieM]

When spoken to about what had transpired I conducted an investigatory interview to determine whether there was any truth in what I had been told. The individual in question did not deny it, and also confirmed that it was not the first time they had perfomed this act at their desk.

Did you conduct this investigatory interview without laughing? If so, how?

 

[Spongebob]

Fantastic thread!

I'm afraid I can only see the funny side and would take no action whatsoever.

Besides, the chances of this bloke ever turning up for work again after enduring what must be the ultimate embarassment must be slim to say the least.

And if he did, I'd just christen him 'Wayne Kerr'!

 

[Cornish Steve]

Well, one company in the US had to cough up $1/2 million for not addressing problems like this in the workplace. One complainant stated, "No one should have to endure a work environment where blatant disregard for human dignity is rampant". So, by all means "see the funny side" and "take no action whatsoever", but beware that you could be setting yourself up for a fall. Companies need to have very clear policies about this and to enforce them.

 

[Dawg]

Thankfully the English legal system is not quite as batshit crazy as the American one, yet.

(I read recently that in cases where it is possible to specify the jurisdiction of a contract, over 65% of American companies chose English law, as against the 20% who chose American law. This indicates a dysfunction of the American legal system which mitigates against your example, perhaps?)

 

[Spongebob]

Well, one company in the US had to cough up $1/2 million for not addressing problems like this in the workplace. One complainant stated, "No one should have to endure a work environment where blatant disregard for human dignity is rampant". So, by all means "see the funny side" and "take no action whatsoever", but beware that you could be setting yourself up for a fall. Companies need to have very clear policies about this and to enforce them.

I'm sure you've got a point but thankfully my three companies have only one employee - me - and I reserve the right absolutely to knock one out in front of my computer screen whenever I feel the urge!

The idea of employing staff has never been less attractive...

 

[GaryMc]

Not an image I particularly wanted Spongebob but it made me chuckle

 

[bridges]

Thankfully the English legal system is not quite as batshit crazy as the American one, yet.

(I read recently that in cases where it is possible to specify the jurisdiction of a contract, over 65% of American companies chose English law, as against the 20% who chose American law. This indicates a dysfunction of the American legal system which mitigates against your example, perhaps?)

Batshit Crazy - That's such a great quote, might have to nick that one!

 

[kulture]

All joking aside, and it has been a funny thread, you should take this situation as a wake up call. You should have a company policy regarding what is viewed on the internet on your PC's on your network.

After all, if they are looking at porn, what is to say that they are also not downloading software, or CDs or indeed anything. Your company could be held Liable if found to be receiving loads of pirated goods. And let us not even BEGIN to discus less appropriate porn that would definitely be illegal.

I am NOT suggesting here that anything like this has happened. Nor that you or your employees would ever do this, BUT it is better to be safe and have a policy in place that makes it 100% clear that anything like this would result in instant dismissal

 

[LicensedToTrade]

any disciplinary certainly needs to reflect the potential harm

I'm sure he will be fine, so long as he isn't doing it ten times a day I am sure that the potential harm will be minimized.

I can't believe I've just come across this thread (so to speak)...I missed out on some corking inuendos and ask anyone at work and they will tell you that I love a good double entendre (court case pending).

 

[yorkshirejames]

Can I emphasise that I only speculated that the whacker _may_ have been using the computer for assistance - this hasn't been given to us as fact.

I'm curious to speculate whether the whacker might have been a different sexuality to the finder.

Re outsourcer's example, I am aware of one national PLC company where (last year or the year before) the HR director left his wife and family and shacked up with a 23 year old temp who was working at his offices.... and who continued to work there when this came out. I'm also aware (a different business) of a director who was visited in his office by a call girl).

May I also say to the mods that if the person who came on here claiming to be the witness has used his own name, that he should be asked to choose a pseudonym (to avoid identifying the whacker).

To those who advocate a policy - would the policy permitted this in a toilet cubicle?

I've just thought of another angle with this - a "company masterbation policy" would be directly sexually discriminatory to men, on the basis that a lady doing similar wouldn't have anything on display, and could easily argue that she just had her hand on her lap / was tucking in her blouse, that her moaning was because she'd hurt herself, and the vibrating noise that could be heard was her mobile phone ringing on the desk.

Be very careful. It would be very easy for you to make what you believe is a sensible decision, only for it to turn around and bite you in the bottom.

 

[Bri]

only for it to turn around and bite you in the bottom.

This is turning into one of those fetish forums.

 

Was this the whacker in the catcher in the rye.?:|

Earl

 

[Jeff FV]

All joking aside, and it has been a funny thread, you should take this situation as a wake up call. You should have a company policy regarding what is viewed on the internet on your PC's on your network.

After all, if they are looking at porn, what is to say that they are also not downloading software, or CDs or indeed anything. Your company could be held Liable if found to be receiving loads of pirated goods. And let us not even BEGIN to discus less appropriate porn that would definitely be illegal.

I think I'd be more worried if I found out that all the individual was looking at spreadsheets ...

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I think I'd be more worried if I found out that all the individual was looking at spreadsheets ...

Don't underestimate how erotic balancing a table can be....sorting them and then making them all integer (**drool....**)

 

[Geoff T]

I think I'd be more worried if I found out that all the individual was looking at spreadsheets ...

Don't underestimate how erotic balancing a table can be....sorting them and then making them all integer (**drool....**)

"chasing a penny" LTT?

Shame on you...

 

[Angus Berger]

May I also say to the mods that if the person who came on here claiming to be the witness has used his own name, that he should be asked to choose a pseudonym (to avoid identifying the whacker).

I can assure you that Angus Berger is a pseudonym - I got the idea from my brother Double Cheese and Bacon.

 

[maxine]

Seems it's not just employees that do this but bosses too!!! eurgh!

http://theoatmeal.com/story/rod_stewart

 

[internetspaceships]

This brings a whole new meaning to being on the job after hours.

Seriously though, yes it's bad BUT since it was a situation where nobody is running off to a psychologist wouldn't it be an opportune moment to now put some kind of internet usage policy in place just in case it WAS that kind of err stimulation?

Finally - bearing in mind the utter shame that the lad is probably now experiencing, don't we also in this PC society have to consider his feelings should he get knowledge of this thread?

 

[Bri]

Finally - bearing in mind the utter shame that the lad is probably now experiencing, don't we also in this PC society have to consider his feelings should he get knowledge of this thread?

well he wasnt exactly extracting the urine out of himself was he?

 

[internetspaceships]

Hehe I wasn't "sticking up" for him, I was just playing the devil's advocate and pretending to be a PC numpty