Phone GPS tracks city employee leaving early

[GyroChuck]

Found this today on Yahoo news. Interesting yet worrisome.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33633/118/
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Phone GPS tracks city employee leaving early – 83 times

New York (NY) – A New York school system employee could be fired after a GPS-enabled phone tracked him leaving early dozens of times within a few months. John Halpin, a 21-year employee and a carpenter supervisor was tracked leaving early 83 times between March and Aug in 2006. Halpin earns $300 for a full day’s work, but sometimes he left more than three hours early.

A free city-issued mobile phone was Halpin’s undoing. Officials activated the phone’s GPS tracking features after they became suspicious about Halpin’s timesheets.

According to the New York Post, Halpin also came in early on “numerous occasions”, sometimes at 6 AM which is two hours earlier than his official 8 AM start time.

An administrative judge has recommended the firing of Halpin.

 

[M. Pearce]

Chuck,

My brother in-law works for sprint and from what I have heard they all can be tracked.

Just don't go into the airport bathroom in Idaho and you'll be allright.

 

[automan1223]

Thats old news.

Thats old news.

Guys that is old knowledge.

If you really want to be up on the facts, the authorities can bug your phone with it off. This came out in several organized crime trials...

The only way to be sure of privacy is to pull the battery, but knowing they can epoxy a battery on the pc board, maybe we just don't need phones period.

You never know when you are farting......who can hear it !:spy:

J

 

[GyroChuck]

How can I tell if my cell phone has a GPS chip in it?

 

[Jazzenjohn]

If your cell phone has 911 capability, and most current phones do, it probably has a gps unit in it.

 

[getut]

I have mine disabled. Most phones have hidden options that can disable the assisted gps built into them. Actually dialing 911 disables the override on most.

If you google your phone model, you can likely find a hack that will disable it so long as you don't dial 911.

 

[RayPierce]

Why is it worrisome?

Why is it worrisome?

I don't know about you but if I'm paying someone to work he had better be at it.
I would have fired his a$$ after the third time instead of the 83rd time.

That cell phone is little different than if a foreman or supervisor were standing over your shoulder.

HIS boss should be in deep do for not supervising him!

 

[scottessex]

Yeah but what about a pat on the back for showing up early???

 

[ultracruiser41]

I agree with Ray! If you're doing what you're supposed to...you have nothing to worry about! Too many lazy-ass Americans ripping employers off! I've had my fill of them! I've got a great, hard working crew now! Can't say enough good things about them!

So......open up the southern border and let's send our lazy-ass Americans down there in an exchange program!


BarryK

 

[brett s]

He should have actually been working the hours he said he was, and it was the city's phone & not his personal one - no problem for me, they had every right to use it like that.

So basically he left early over half the days he was working, assuming he was a 5 day a week employee - good riddance, should have been fired much sooner. He would have been if working for me!

 

[PW_Plack]

There are some jobs you can't accurately track by having someone punch a clock, but if you're supposed to be supervising construction workers and you're going home 3 hours early, you're ripping off the boss.

This happens in more subtle ways in other businesses. Playing/shopping/porning on computers instead of working is supposedly the most prevalent productivity-sapper these days.

 

[scottessex]

When ever I show up for work late.....I always go home early to make up for it.

 

[Timchick]

Our work trucks have GPS tracking on them. They can tell how fast we're driving, if we're sitting with the truck idleing too long, etc. At any time they can pull up a map and see exactly where we are. They can set parameters and our supervisors get email and text messages if we're doing something we shouldn't be doing.

 

[kc0iv]

I don't know about you but if I'm paying someone to work he had better be at it.
I would have fired his a$$ after the third time instead of the 83rd time.

That cell phone is little different than if a foreman or supervisor were standing over your shoulder.

HIS boss should be in deep do for not supervising him!

He was the "carpenter supervisor".

Leon

(kc0iv)

 

[getut]

Everyone usually has something that they get freakish about, or is a pet peeve, etc.

I guess because I work in IT security, security and privacy are my items that I get tweaked over. I always disable the assisted GPS in any phone I have before I leave the store with it... so I have always done my homework to make sure the hack is possible and available before I get a new model.

Same with companies getting information. I TRY to always pay for items with cash and refuse to give any information if they ask for it. If they absolutely insist, then I am known as Santa Claus with many companies.

I don't show receipts when I leave a store, even if they are on the phone with the cops giving tag information as I pull out of the lot. I've been pulled over 10 miles down the road before and I stand my ground and even refuse to show it to the cop unless he produces a warrant. I've had them get absolutely red faced with me... and the kicker is a couple of them have had the gall to ask "If you're not guilty what the big deal showing the receipt". Sheesh, Talk about missing the point. Each time so far, personal rights have won out much to the chagrin of the cops. They pull every trick in the book to swindle you into willingly giving up your rights.

With some of my side business clients (network management for companies too small to afford full time IT), it absolutely scares me to death knowing that in certain cases people have no choice but to give these places sensitive personal information to be able to do business with them. Insurance companies, Auto dealerships, etc where ALL critical info has to be given to do loans etc. And these companies keeping that info on computers that Sneezy the salesman uses to browse porn on during slow periods. The same computers that I have to remove viruses from over and over and over, that the companies won't let me truly lock down because security is "too inconvenient". I've almost gotten to the point where I feel like demanding to inspect their computer security before I give them any information.

Hell, your cars have black boxes now that tell on you if you were speeding right before a crash. As soon as the technology progresses a little further. I'll always be carrying an RFID jammer on my keyring because even clothing is coming with RFID chips in them now at some stores. More expensive items don't have just the simple RFID chips, but the more expensive programmable variety that gets programmed with information about the sale when it leaves the store. Ripe for anyone to scan as you walk by.

In todays environment, a surveillance society is easy. True security is hard. True privacy is hard to impossible. People have starting taking the easy way out and just accepting it. So I guess one they become available I'll be carrying gps jammers also.

Oh... and after typing all that, don't get the wrong idea. The guy deserves everything he got not doing what he was supposed to do and what he was being payed to do. If the company provided the cell phone, THEY are the owner and can and should say what features are enabled/disabled on THEIR device. But full disclosure and the chance to refuse should be given to anyone in that scenario.

 

[Vance]

I know some people who play on Internet forums when they are supposed to be working.

Thank you, Vance

 

[Luc De Keyser]

it is the results that count

it is the results that count

If this guy's team reached their targets in volume and quality consistently I could not care less if he spend all day in a bar (or flying).

But I also would sure study his methods and see how I could get those same results but without the cost of a supervisor paid full time to be there.

But I agree, management is at fault here, most likely.

Luc

 

[RayPierce]

He was the "carpenter supervisor".

Leon

(kc0iv)

And unless he is the CEO he has a supervisor!

I have five "supervisors" between me and the CEO of the company I work for.

AND!

He has a board of directors he has to work for.

AND!
The board of directors have the stockholders they have to answer to!

AND!
Then there are the nagging wives they answer to.....
It just never ends.

 

[ultracruiser41]

Ya know,
Life's too short to be living in a state of paranoia! I try to be safe with my information but I don't worry about it. There are stop-gap measures you can take to prevent identiy theft and pre-measures you can take incase of a problem occures.

Showing a receipt before leaving a store?.......What's the big deal? It's much less of a hassel to show a receipt than waisting my time getting pulled over later. Time is money as they say!

Point is, If someone is in my employement and I'm investing good money in them to do a job and it is effecting my customer base, I will do what it takes to ensure the employee is doing his or her job. (as long as it's legal and fair)

Keeping a job is simple...show up on time...do your job...and go home! It's amazing how many people just can't do that right!

Barry (big mean boss) K

 

[BUD ONEAL]

And he worked for the city.If you are employed by the city,county,state then you are under the scope by all those out there who wish that they had your "coushie" job.