To think my manager is a twat?

[Goodgirlsgotohell]

“That’s what we pay you for” and “you’re using our internet” (I briefly used google maps on my break once as I had an appointment to get to)

It’s a large global company and he’s the manager of an entry level job. He (and obviously myself) have many other manager etc above us.

My wages and the company’s outgoings do not come out of his pocket.

Are you allowed to use work internet for personal use?

Yes. He's a twat.

No. He's not a twat.

In all seriousness everyone uses the internet at work for personal uses.

I work in a massive open plan offer and I can see people using it.

Using google maps on my break i can’t see the issue.

Most big companies don't mind you using the internet for personal reasons during breaks, providing you are not abusing it (massive downloads or streaming porn). A quick look at Google Maps would not have hurt the company's finances in any way, and it was not done when you should have been working, so YANBU, the manager is a twat.

Was it a work appointment?

YANBU your manager is a twat and so are the people asking if it was a 'work appointment' or asking if you are allowed to use the internet for personal use.

"I briefly used google maps on my break once as I had an appointment to get to"

Did you clarify this with him?

Next time you sit down with him for a formal catchup, outline why you needed it, what you were doing.

Communicate. Make that your number one priority.

If you don't, he'll bully you for the rest of your time there.

Sounds like a twat. If the company had a serious issues and a hard line rule, its easy enough for them to install software to limit sites allowef. The fact that it was a map site and on your break tells me he is in fact a twat.

Was it a work appointment?

No. A hospital appointment,

Makes no difference in my opinion.

• Checked their personal email
• Checked a news website
• Tracked an order
• Listened to music on YouTube/Spotify

If anyone here who works in an office says they’ve never done any of the above then I’ll show you a liar.

If anyone here who works in an office says they’ve never done any of the above then I’ll show you a liar.

All of those bar the news website would be firewalled where I work. But we are allowed to use non-firewalled sites during breaks as long as we don't breach the internet usage policy.

As for your manager - it depends what the policy is at your workplace as to whether he is being a twat or merely enforcing the rules. The fact that others (may) break the rules doesn't make someone else a twat for enforcing them.

If everyone is using the Internet for persona reasons, are your work colleagues being pulled up on it too.

My manager wouldn’t mind if we were looking up a couple of things but if it says in your employee contract that it shouldn’t be used for personal reasons then your manager is just enforcing this.

If everyone is using the Internet for personal reasons, are your work colleagues being pulled up on it too?

It’s more the fact he said OUR internet - like he’s the one that pays for it.

@Goodgirlsgotohell

I think your manager is being a twat, but I also think you're missing the point a bit if you don't mind me saying.

It doesn't matter if everyone else is using the Internet to google cat memes or whatever - he took umbrage with you particularly.

This is now part of your personal development at work.

You can seethe about it privately, and lord knows we all do that.

Or you can find time to get a short bit of constructive feedback from him. Cite the incident, ask him what the policy is (no personal internet at any time? Fine. But if that's not the policy, why did he take umbrage then?) and get clear on this.

Anything else is just going to be resentment central, you'll just hate on him for the sake of it and it gives him licence to get at you again without foundation.

I have to say that he does sound like a twat, OP.

He isn't my ex-husband by any chance? [grim]

Duh. That was supposed to be grin. As in

Although it would certainly also be grim if you had my ex as your manager...

It's not 'his' or you companies internet ffs! He's a twat

Don't waste time on it OP, it's obviously all gone to his head as it so often does in middle management. I doubt most of your bosses even know who he is let's face it. Very tragic indeed.

If he company has no policy in place with regards wifi use then he need not be the gate keeper of the wifi. I would defer to whatever company policy is though.

If I were to actually pulled up on it I would expect everybody else to also be or I would accuse him of singling me out/workplace bullying. I would contest entirely if no policy were visible.

The whole thing is daft, anyone, including him, with their phones on and connected to wifi will be using data regardless, apps do run in the background. How was he able to determine you were using the office network and not your data network anyway?

He's a power hungry, controlling bullying prick, not a manager.

Here's what I'd do, genuinely.

I'd go to his direct supervisor or if you know he has a good relationship with that boss then go to the supervisor above that (You can do this via e-mail and copy HR if you prefer, it gives a trail too) and explain exactly what happened, like you have here.

I'd ask why it is such a problem for the company if I use your internet on my break to research for a trip to the doctors. I wouldn't mention that I think it is fine, I'd leave it to them to explain what the problem is.

If they come back with a problem I'd ask why this isn't uniformly implemented and why it feels like they are bullying you in particular on this matter.

That should do it.

Crikey - do people genuinely think using google maps at work might be a problem? Who works somewhere where you can’t use the office internet/WiFi for personal reasons. Does this really happen?

All my contracts have stated I can use company internet and mobile for personal stuff as long as it’s within reason and doesn’t interfere with work.
If you work for a big company your contract probably says something to that effect.

Yes, your manager is a busybody and likely will be a junior manager forever.

Take what you can from this role (training, experience, contacts, projects that look good on your CV) and move internally or externally ASAP

often people are promoted to their level of incompetence (unless your a mumsnetter of course ) he may be an example of this& is probably aware of it