Tech Tricks for Slacking at Work

Thanks, now the internet is getting as bad as TV. Teach everyone to be dishonest and steal from the company. Not working when you are being paid to do so is stealing.

We're all tempted to relax a bit at work now and then. I know I check e-mail during breaks myself. However, I find it reprehensible that under "AOL News" I'm seeing a story which should be titled, "How to Steal from Your Employer".

That's right, folks. Spending paid time not working is taking payment for goods not delivered. That's theft.

Perhaps AOL can next do an "AOL News" feature, "Job Interview Q&A: Fired for Slacking Off? Never-Fail Interview Lies"!

Also, with tracking software, the company will know everywhere you have really been on THEIR computer. Can we say "BUSTED"!

The authors of this seem to be have fooled themselves into confusing holding a job with sneaking in study hall. The glory of tricking others into actually believing you're working!

You have to wonder how effective these strategies are, for those brainless enough to try them. The fact is, if there's a job to do and you don't get it done, you'll be doing double time before you know it, just to catch up. Who needs that grief? And who actually benefits from being known as someone who's "always busy" but doesn't get things done? If you actually follow these practices, get ready for your co-workers (wise to your wiles) to be promoted to become your boss.

The only one you'll really be fooling in all of this is yourself.

Honestly, when employers pay crap to begin with, American workers should feel no regret when or if they 'slack off'. And, there are some jobs out there without actual quotas where if they're doing their jobs only 25% of the time and as long as they're not caught on MySpace or AOL, then no one is the wiser.

However, there are employers who put stringent regulations on their company property, like UPS for example, where I was not even allowed to listen to music while doing such a mindless job it was tedious and boring without said music.

My fellow employees around me had their players unlocked, but mine was locked from day one.

Either way, if people find a company like that, then they should be happy about the place(s) they HAVE worked at that were 'loose' on regulations.

But again I say that American employers pay crap for the average worker in this country and unless you're pooling your money to pay house bills with someone else, you're likely to be out on the street before long with what some of these thieves pay.

Thanks for the article . As for all of the idoits that are writing crap about this article. . . get a life. One of the reasons this article was written is because its already been done and thought of, so get over it.

Interesting article. Some of these tactics I see at work and didn't realize what I was seeing. As for me, I'm overwhelmed with work and don't have the time to spare to even consider doing these things. But, good info for future use, I say. Everyone needs to take a little breather for themselves at times, even at work. (just don't abuse it, people).

Slacking is slacking. How many times have you called a company expecting service only to get terrible service or delayed "return call" time.If everyone would do their job when they are supposed to...and save goofing off for vacation and breaks...perhaps service in this country wouldn't stink as much as it does. The tricks are clever, but juvenile... whether you are being paid 8 dollars an hour or 60,000 a year, you should take pride in your job and do it to the best of your ability. To do otherwise is DISHONEST. I teach in a High School and during the summer I waitress. In BOTH jobs, I take pride in my work and give 100% when I am "on the clock." In my teaching job, it's earned me respect from supervisors, students, colleagues, and parents. In my waitressing job it's earned me excellent tips AND the respect of my bosses so that I essentially choose my own schedule and get the best stations. In the end, you only have your character and your reputation. And these "tips" they are giving do NOTHING to enhance either.

And, I'd take a bet that most of you that have negative remarks about this article own a radar detector, or speed in a posted speed zone, and etc., and etc. Is one any different than the other???

To all those people that are posting comments about how dishonest and bad it is of AOL to post such ideas for the public: Why are you reading it anyway??? You obviously looked... so your obviously not as serious and honest at work either!!! Cuz you clicked on the link that said "Slack Off on the Sly:Six Tricks That Make You Look Busy." Quit being hypocrites!!!

Anyone notice the times on these postings? 11:55 am 2:06 pm etc...working hours! And yet they are posting a message hmmm...ranting about people slacking at work..Unless these are not working people which always makes it easier to tell others that are out working what they should and shouldn't be doing..

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Want to work for real? Instead of slacking off? Make money in Real Estate! Learn from Armando Montelongo of A&E's "Flip This House". Sign up today at: http://GreatIdeaMan.armandomontelongo.com/ and get 5 pages of his eBook FREE!!

C'MON PEOPLE! GIVE ME SOME SLACK!!!! HOW MANY OF YOU WENT FOR A COFFEE BRAKE, CIGARRETE BREAK, ANSWERED OR MADE PRIVATE PHONE CALLS, AND OTHER BREAKS WITH NO END? NOW YOU ARE ALL UP IN ARMS, BECAUSE OF THIS ARTICLE? C'MON!!!!GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!

I would rather get paid crap to do a frustrating, vomit inducing customer service job than to read some of the comments the tight wads have left on here. You people are the kiss ass, no-life, faux do-gooders that put in constant overtime at their job because there is nothing for them at home. You are the epitome of what makes a co-worker unbearable. Congratulations, you have earned your title. I hope that your boss spoons you at night for doing such a great job of tattling on those with lives and power tripping over others to try to fill that empty void of your pathetic existence.

i think the picture was funny :P

What about the classic looking busy trick? If you have a clipboard in one hand and a pencil in the other, it looks like you're working even if you're just strolling back late from your break!

Maybe if AOL stopped slacking off, we would have better things to read...........

Lame. Luckily, a good manager can see right through these juvenile tricks. For those too dumb to get the work done ... welcome to the WELFARE line!

Something that has always bothered me is that my company will bend over backwards to give smokers an almost hourly smoke break (God knows, we wouldn't want to upset the smokers!) The average cigarette lasts about 5 to 7 minutes. The walk time to the designated smoking room is 2 to 3 minutes; the walk back is the same, unless the smoker walks by the water cooler or coffee pot; then add 3 more minutes. It works out to about 15 minutes per hour. HOWEVER, let a non-smoker head for the break room to just sit or read a magazine for 15 minutes every hour and you'd be considered a slacker. I have nothing against smokers - really, that's not the issue. It's the inequity based on one group's addiction. BUT, while I'm on the subject, one smoker in our office always times his breaks about 5 minutes before the supervisor's. When the supervisor arrives at the smoking lounge, my fellow employee fires up cigarette #2 and makes up some bullshit topic to discuss with the boss -- AND, if the boss lights a second one, my coworker will light a third. So, he spends about three hours huffing and puffing every day - I'm sure it's productive smoking, though. HA! HA!