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Should you be paid for the time it takes to boot your computer?
There's no question that we all want computers that boot up and shut down more quickly. While a fresh install of Windows XP might boot as quickly as 30 seconds on some computers, the more applications you load onto your computer, the slower it will boot. Things get even worse with Windows Vista which loads about as quickly as paint dries. While Microsoft and other OS makers are working to cut boot times, if you're using a current generation operating system, odds are you spend at least a few minutes every day waiting for your computer to startup and shut down.Now here's the big question of the day - if this is your work computer we're talking about, should you be paid for that time? Apparently employees at seveal companies including AT7T and Cigna have filed lawsuits alleging that they weren't paid for the time it took to turn their computers on and off each day, a process which they claim takes 15 to 30 minutes.
The employees say they should be paid for their time, because they're doing other work related activities while the computer loads, while employers argue that just as often, they aren't. But you know what? It's not like the employees are lying in bed sleeping at home. It's hardly their fault their bosses installed software that takes for-friggin-ever to boot. Not that I'm taking sides in this dispute.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments.
[via TaxProf Blog and Gizmodo]
Comments
42
Subscribe to commentsFrankJan 18th 2009 9:18AM
This is pretty simple really... They don't want to pay for it because then it would be 30 minutes of THEIR time that was wasted every week... then they would be forced to consider upgrading the hardware because their cost/gain analysis would be off. In America and many other countries companies get away with this sort of thing because the countries make laws to benefit the companies rather than the workers. That means that the companies with sane regulations are few and far between, because they have higher costs than the evil companies.
So what can you do about it? Well, if you are in America I would suggest threatening a lawsuit, showing them the previous similar cases that have been quoted in earlier comments. In a less litigious part of the world - argue your case citing the same previous cases and if ignored spend half an hour of THEIR time each week finding another job that actually pays you for your time. Like someone said further up the thread - if you were a busdriver you would be paid for the time it took you to start your bus. Same for most other jobs. Just not the one you are currently at.
Complaining about your job is all well and fine - everyone does it. But don't pretend you do not have a choice in the matter.
sikanrongJan 19th 2009 10:33PM
IS EVERYONE ON FUCKING CRACK!? this has such an easy solution!! Just have the freaking janitor turn on all the computers when he cleans before everyone gets in!!! Computers are on, people are working, no waiting around. What's wrong with this?