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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Job losses over eBay 'addiction' | Job losses over eBay 'addiction' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three council workers have lost their jobs for spending too long on the internet auction site eBay. | Three council workers have lost their jobs for spending too long on the internet auction site eBay. |
| One was sacked and two resigned after managers at Neath Port Talbot council found some staff were spending up to two hours a day on the website. | One was sacked and two resigned after managers at Neath Port Talbot council found some staff were spending up to two hours a day on the website. |
| Union officials have blamed bosses for "putting temptation in their way" - by allowing access to the internet. | Union officials have blamed bosses for "putting temptation in their way" - by allowing access to the internet. |
| The council said it carried out an investigation after officials spent a "significant time" on the internet. | The council said it carried out an investigation after officials spent a "significant time" on the internet. |
| It said another two cases were being investigated while another member of staff had been given a warning. | It said another two cases were being investigated while another member of staff had been given a warning. |
| Union officials said in all, over an 18 month period, up to six council staff had lost their jobs. | Union officials said in all, over an 18 month period, up to six council staff had lost their jobs. |
| The council highlighted "an unacceptable level of usage of shopping, entertainment". | The council highlighted "an unacceptable level of usage of shopping, entertainment". |
| Graham Jones, personnel chief at the council, said: "We have a policy of allowing employees to use the internet in their own time. | Graham Jones, personnel chief at the council, said: "We have a policy of allowing employees to use the internet in their own time. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Staff were given the facility but they chose to abuse it, and they have to take responsibility for their actions. People complain about a nanny state but then abuse trust. They can't have it both ways. Boxy class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7483">Send us your comments | |
| "But we clearly don't want them to use it in council time - at the end of the day they are employed to do a job of work not be shopping online." | "But we clearly don't want them to use it in council time - at the end of the day they are employed to do a job of work not be shopping online." |
| The council, which employs 7,500 staff, had security software in place to prevent access to inappropriate websites such as porn sites but not eBay sites. | The council, which employs 7,500 staff, had security software in place to prevent access to inappropriate websites such as porn sites but not eBay sites. |
| Unison welfare officer Mark Fisher said people got "addicted" to certain websites. | Unison welfare officer Mark Fisher said people got "addicted" to certain websites. |
| "People get very involved in eBay, Sky Sports and their favourite soccer teams. It happens in many, many offices," he said. | "People get very involved in eBay, Sky Sports and their favourite soccer teams. It happens in many, many offices," he said. |
| "Obviously we cannot justify people spending a couple of hours of working time looking at these sites - but temptation was put in their way," he added. | "Obviously we cannot justify people spending a couple of hours of working time looking at these sites - but temptation was put in their way," he added. |
| "We plan to push for the authority to make changes to its IT system, to help prevent workers landing themselves in hot water." | "We plan to push for the authority to make changes to its IT system, to help prevent workers landing themselves in hot water." |
| He called for internet access be limited to lunch break and that web access should be filtered at other times. | He called for internet access be limited to lunch break and that web access should be filtered at other times. |
| "We want them to take temptation out of people's hands," Mr Fisher said. | "We want them to take temptation out of people's hands," Mr Fisher said. |
| "These were decent well-paid jobs in admin earning between £20,000 and £25,000 a year. | "These were decent well-paid jobs in admin earning between £20,000 and £25,000 a year. |
| "It is personally devastating to them to lose their jobs over this." | "It is personally devastating to them to lose their jobs over this." |