Workplace in your home - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2021, 11:46:27 pm
content: I found this article and thought working from home is one thing but requiring employees to be constantly monitored through everything they do and through a camera and then the home might as well be part of their workplace.https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/26/missing-from-desk-ai-webcam-raises-remote-surveillance-concernsQuoteShould companies who do this be paying the employees some kind of rent for the privilege of turning part of their house into their office?

author: JohnnyMalaria
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 01:20:45 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on March 28, 2021, 11:46:27 pmNo, you're already saving a buttload by not commuting. e.g., in my case it amounts to $6000 per year in savings not having to drive and a couple of $1000 more not having to use a cafeteria for lunch. And I get two hours more time to do non-work stuff because I'm not sat in a car.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 01:59:33 am
content: Quote from: JohnnyMalaria on March 29, 2021, 01:20:45 amI see, the costs of cummuting are offset so this can be welcoming to those who have to travel a lot or have to face congestion.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 02:02:20 am
content: QuoteBut against that you are paying heating and electricity and broadband.QuoteIn my case, one of my previous permie positions was 1.5 miles away, so I could walk if I wanted and get some exercise. Everyone is different.The company does have a good point about data privacy, but I note that none of my clients or employers has ever questioned where I am doing my off-prem stuff or whether someone might accidentally catch a glimpse of the screen. Same with my partner - she used to WFH for a multi-national, and is now WFH as self-employed. None of her clients have raised this issue, far less insisted they can monitor what she is doing or when. It is far more likely that this company just doesn't trust their employees not to skive off and think micro-managing them will achieve something.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 08:27:08 am
content: This AI stuff and predatory surveillance is really scary. I hate the fact that it's even legal. Unfortunately I think this sort of stuff is just going to become the norm. Especially in the states, they seem to be really obsessed with using technology against the people. Amazon drivers for example have an AI that monitors their every move, they are not even allowed to yawn. The big issue with this too is that AI is not always right, so you could be falsely doxed or fired over a mistake. We all know how well the Youtube AI is at determining if a video is inappropriate...They do some pretty crazy stuff to students in school too, if you lookup "proctoru" and "lockdown browser" you'll see a lot of articles on it. Basically a special software they are forced to install that monitors everything like their eye movement. They are not even allowed to look off screen and their every move is monitored. Imaging being tied to your computer for 8 hours straight and not being allowed to ever look away. This is abuse. Don't care what the school's or company's legal rights are (nobody being entitled to pricacy etc), it's still not ok to do this stuff in such a predatory manner. Nothing worse than knowing your every move is being watched, your entire job is basically walking on eggshells.Thankfully my company is decent that I don't think they'll ever do any stuff like this. I'm sure there's some monitoring going on like emails that get sent out, web usage habits , phone conversations etc, but that's not as invasive as 100% real time monitoring of every little move. I do enjoy working from home and feel that being in my own home is just an overall better environment. Can set temperature to what I want, have access to all my personal stuff like food etc, etc. Not having to clear snow off the car or defrost the windshield is a big plus too. My lunch break is also actually an hour instead of 45 minutes too as I don't need to drive home, I'm already home.They are hinting at maybe making working from home permanent for some departments, I don't think it will happen to mine since even in the pandemic they want at least one person in office, but maybe they will keep the hybrid approach too... Work from home is a slippery slope job security wise though. The minute a company actually realizes that stuff is being done efficiently without them requiring an office, then they also realize that the job can easily be outsourced overseas at 1/10th the cost. So like my union rep said, be careful what you wish for. Nice working from home but not if it compromises job security.

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 08:58:57 am
content: Well this young lady and her friend 'Bubbles' have been working from home since 1967 and she's not missed a moment away from her deskcam. She's certainly employee of the month.+edit+ Just rememberd those old bank robbery movies where the live CCTV is replaced with a video loop. Must get out that old VHS camcorder.It would not take much thought to create a convincing webcam avatar (with scarey clown face) to defeat the auto snoop software.OXOhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_Card_F

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 12:12:28 pm
content: Anybody who wants to monitor me that way can shove the job.If they are concerned about security, then they can sort out other solutions ... like working in a centralised, secure location. You know .... like ... an office.As for making sure I do an acceptable level of work - I would think there would be several metrics that don't involve challenging me to explain an absence every time I take a toilet break, stretch my legs or answer the door to tell some Seventh Day Adventists "on your bike".

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 12:22:38 pm
content: QuoteA big problem is that they'll not have second thoughts about doing exactly that, and someone more desperate will quickly take your place. And eventually, you'll be that desperate someone.Although you personally are probably safe for now since we are talking non-salaried workers in the article, and typically they are the ones that cannot argue the toss about their working conditions. Well, they can, but only en route to the next minimum wage gig.

author: PKTKS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 04:06:22 pm
content: Honestly that is the threshold point in which ..Unless they are *really* making me rich..I will them to fuck-off and just go to hell..Paul

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 04:51:04 pm
content: QuoteOr, more likely, just bobbing above the breadline.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 05:02:19 pm
content: Your screen should blink every now and then:"Big Brother is watching you"Just to remind you to behave. In your own home. Where your children are not supposed to talk to you.

author: YurkshireLad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 06:21:09 pm
content: Didn't Amazon want to use something like this for their delivery drivers?

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 06:25:02 pm
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on March 28, 2021, 11:46:27 pmYou wish!They already get your dreams for free.

author: iJoseph2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 08:09:38 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 29, 2021, 08:27:08 amWorkrave will not like that. And I think the default is 4hours max computer use per day - but don't hold me to that... I can't remember.https://sourceforge.net/projects/workrave/

author: Microdoser
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2021, 09:12:20 pm
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on March 28, 2021, 11:46:27 pmIf you are using your own equipment or electricity or dedicate space in your home on behalf of their company etc then yes their company should totally be compensating you for your outlay which saves them money.Not having to rent an office saves them money, a lot. You deserve a portion of that.I work at home for my own business and I charge my business for the electricity and space it takes up in my home.That AI Big Brother sounds like a load of 'Hell No' to me though.

author: 25 CPS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 12:31:40 am
content: Quote from: JohnnyMalaria on March 29, 2021, 01:20:45 amOh, this is a really sore spot with me. Up here in Canada, Trudeau's decided to give people a $400 no questions asked tax credit for working from home. This is a $400 credit for people who have to go on a long, perilous journey to the kitchen table to flip open a work from home laptop when they're already massively ahead saving their commute costs.Meanwhile, and fall disclosure I fall into this camp, all the essential services workers, all the so-called front-line heroes we've been hearing so much blah blah blah about how wonderful they are for the last year, who have no choice but to go to workatwork actuallyget nothing.It's totally perverse and ass backwards.

author: Syntax Error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 02:46:12 pm
content: @25 CPS do you realise just how much home commuters are suffering? Now they have to get their OWN lattes! Often from their OWN coffee machine. Pour it into their OWN cup. And then wipe the steamy pipe thing with their OWN dirty piece of bacteria infested cloth. Yes Canada, people are suffering.Meanwhile the British have gone into 'Liquid Lockdown'. Webcam meetings are an ever lasting office party. Maybe that workplace monitor should include an alcohol breath test?

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 03:32:36 pm
content: im waiting for the uk government to start charging business rates on your home office space

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2021, 07:05:02 pm
content: Quote from: JohnnyMalaria on March 29, 2021, 01:20:45 am

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2021, 05:48:39 am
content: mmm great way to spread viruses, force people to come into the office. 'boss we just don't have the same synergy on video chat, we need to sit huddled together in the board room'why do I see that cartoon still being factual if 30% of the world population got killed by a disease?i always liked George Romeros 'land of the dead'. its kind of about a city run by dilberts boss

author: 25 CPS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2021, 04:10:58 pm
content: Quote from: Syntax Error on March 30, 2021, 02:46:12 pmI know. My heart bleeds for them. It's cruel and unusual punishment for these work from home laptop jockeys to have to make their own coffees and clean up the mess after themselves.In all seriousness, the building I work in, and I'm still required to actually go in to work, used to be in a bit of a no man's land but that's changed over time as sprawl and urbanization's happened and it got to the point where there were four Starbucks with in easy less than 5 minute walking distance as of late 2019 and for most of 2020. The massive shift to working from home due to the pandemic caused Starbucks to close three of those four a couple of months ago though so that speaks to the volume of work from home going on.Seriously, it really rankles me that Trudeau's got the federal government handing out this $400 no questions asked tax credit for work from home expenses to people that are saving huge money by not commuting at the same time he and every other politician has been running their mouths about essential workers on the front line blah blah blah, and yet none of us get anything from the government? Excuse me, that's pretty rude.It's even worse when you consider all the essential workers that happen to be under 40 are dead last in line to get vaccinated, get nothing for continuing to go to work at work, have had a year plus no of no enjoyable activities with no end in sight, and get blamed by the same politicians for spreading COVID-19 even though I and everyone I know keeps going to work, then going home and staring at the ceiling until it's time to go to sleep and then get up and do it again. It's unreal.I watched Trudeau's press conference yesterday to see if he'd speak to any of that but no. More blah blah blah about how great front line workers are. More blah blah blah about how we can't have our lives back. More blah blah blah about vaccines showing up eventually. Maybe. Several months from now. If we're lucky. Then it's question and answer period with the same lame softball questions out of the Canadian media which is too polite to ask the difficult stuff that needs to be asked and air the answers.Q: "Mr. Trudeau, how many COVID-19 vaccinations can be packed into a 747?"A: "Well, you know, it isn't so much about how many COVID-19 vaccinations that can be packed into a 747 as it is the ethical problem of that 747 once it's loaded because of climate change and the carbon footprint that flying that aircraft would have. We're committed to meeting our Pairs accord obligations, and that's why Canada's rate of vaccination continues to fall further and further behind all other developed countries..."Q: "Mr. Trudeau, do you have a plan to-"A: "Hold it right there. I can categorically say that it would be deeply irresponsible for the Canadian government to make ANY plans at a time like this."With the way things are going sideways here, the work from home crowd's going to have to keep slinging their own damn coffee and is probably in line for another $400 tax credit for 2021 as well.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2021, 06:54:50 pm
content: On the plus side, that's Canadian dollars so not worth much anyway