BIG BROTHER in your pocket???

[Pause]

Maybe that's a little extreme, but speaking of GPS units I was wondering how many stations have the capability to 'track' crews on the road. Our new company issued cell phones have GPS capability. The boss showed me a web page he goes to to get the street address of all of us, along with all kinds of other fun trivia like how long we've been at that location, where we were before that, our max and average speed to get there, etc. And apparently all this is searchable for the LAST 30 DAYS. Needless to say when I leave work I shut off the GPS part of the phone. Is this common?

[Sportsguy]

Can't you turn off the GPS feature in the phone?

I would.

[Pause]

I DO shut it off, and usually forget to turn it back on. I just don't know if this is worth raising a stink about. Seems like an invasion of privacy issue.

[Corporate Management]

There's got to be some sort of law about this.

If there isn't...there should be.

[pre-set]

One of the stations in my market has GPS units on the cars. Yes, they do provide real-time data from the car and it's location.

Two interesting stories from this...

1) A crew car (Crown Vic) was stolen from in front of a photogs house. The desk directed another crew right to the cars location (along with the cops). The car was recovered.

2) A photog was called into the office for GPS data that showed his car doing in excess of 120 mph on a local highway. By examining the "time" of the speeding incident, it was determined that the time of day (4pm - rush hour, bumper to bumper traffic common in area in question) and the fact that it was snowwing heavily and had been doing so for hours prior, indicated a "fault" with the system.


True stories....

[rocky1138]

nice stories pre-set...

I've heard of this before. it is even possible for your boss to see EVERYTHING you type on your computer, even text you delete.

I wouldn't like the thought of my boss tracking every movement, but I've had many co-workers who are just lazy & abuse on-the-clock time. so I understand why employeers would like to use these "tools"

I would see a problem w/ having your boss track you while you're not at work w/ a cell phone that is suppose to be on you 24-7

does anyone know how sensitive these are? ie does it track you to the mall, best buy or the special interest DVD section?

[SeattleShooter]

This product is for a parent of a teen driver. But you get the idea. Anyone can get it.

http://www.mobileteengps.com/index.php

[Pause]

The one I have gives a street address, just like Google maps. One photog got called and was asked what he was doing downtown for the last 3 hours, no one's had been assigned down there. Boss didn't realize he wasn't on duty.

[PhrozenPhoto]

Just a heads up from what I remember reading a while back. If it is a Nextel branded phone I believe even if you think the GPS function is off someone can still track your whereabouts, it essentially has a manager override on that. If you're that paranoid or annoyed by it I once read that a couple of layers of aluminum foil wrapped around the phone will pretty much kill off the GPS function. Don't know if that actually works or not. Turning the phone off will work, of course the down side to that is obvious.

[Sportsguy]

If my manager is that anal and needs to know my whereabouts 24/7, I think I may seek out a new employer.

It's not that I'm wasting time on the clock, it's that I'm just not totally comfortable with someone watching over my every move.

[NoJobTog]

Turning the phone off will work, of course the down side to that is obvious.

I had a cell phone issued by my employer once. The calling plan still had "call forwarding". If your worried about being tracked by your work issued nextel phone...try to forward the calls to your personal..so that you can cut the nextel off.

[pre-set]

If my manager is that anal and needs to know my whereabouts 24/7, I think I may seek out a new employer.





BULLSH!T !!!

It's time seek out a new MANAGER - not a new JOB. Set his asss up and get him fired!

[cameradog]

You know what would be fun? Get the guy at the local porn shop to let you leave your phone there on your off days (when you're off duty, of course). Or, if you know any bartenders, get them to let you leave it at the bar for 24 or 48 hours straight. Then just wait for your managers to say something about it and put on a show of anger when they do.

[Bismarck]

Or, put it in the bushes by their bedroom window every night.

[mi3ke]

Turning the phone off will work, of course the down side to that is obvious.[/QUOTE] I think the correct way to do this is to REMOVE the battery from the phone, otherwise there is still power in the phone and it is still talking to the mothership.

CHeers, Mi3ke

[Corporate Management]

Or, put it in the bushes by their bedroom window every night.

That's the funniest damn thing I've heard all day. Thanks.

[Baltimore Shooter]

"You agitatin' my dots?" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rVKy_pfFU

Warren

[photogguy]

Or, put it in the bushes by their bedroom window every night.

Ding, ding, ding, ding!!! No more calls, we have a winner!

[Bismarck]

Glad I could help.

[INLANDNEWS]

Police Cars, Firetrucks, Ambulances, Dirt Haulers, airplanes, helicopters, rent-a-cars, the president, military vehicles, teenagers etc have all been tracked by GPS for years. This is nothing new. There is also nothing illegal about it while you are on the clock. Is it ethical? That's up for debate.

[Dedline]

I recall one small startup company who was pitching it to networks so they'd know where all their crews and live trucks were during breaking news. this was only for crew vehicles, not for cell phones.

[Pause]

I thought GPS tracking of crews was a lot more prevalent than you guys are making it seem. Seems like a no-brainer, from a corporate POV. Course, I don't really like it, but my inner manager does.

[Bismarck]

At my old job, I worked with one specific reporter about 95% of the time, and we always got things done, albeit in our own way. The news director and assistant ND just didn't ask questions and let us be, since we never came back empty-handed.

[Cletus918]

I can see how a boss could abuse this power. It's a simple matter of you are on the clock, and if you're spending more time at the strip club than you are shooting that lead package for the news at 6, there's cause for some concern over "stealing payroll".

But where I work I have maybe 3-4 shoots a day in 8 hours, so if I take off to McDonald's for a quick lunch and he's tracking that? I think it's a load of crap.

All in all, I feel that if the boss is using tasteful discresion and not abusing his power/ability, I can't say I see much of an issue.

Although... I would like to see the reaction of other strip-club goers when the come to the club and see a company vehicle plastered with logos, slogans, and tipline numbers in the parking lot...

[INLANDNEWS]

I can see how a boss could abuse this power. It's a simple matter of you are on the clock, and if you're spending more time at the strip club than you are shooting that lead package for the news at 6, there's cause for some concern over "stealing payroll".

But where I work I have maybe 3-4 shoots a day in 8 hours, so if I take off to McDonald's for a quick lunch and he's tracking that? I think it's a load of crap.

All in all, I feel that if the boss is using tasteful discresion and not abusing his power/ability, I can't say I see much of an issue.

Although... I would like to see the reaction of other strip-club goers when the come to the club and see a company vehicle plastered with logos, slogans, and tipline numbers in the parking lot...


Those strip club goers think you might be there shooting a story...now if you are parked there everyday there might cause for concern!

[couryhouse]

green screen him into some whore house footage! (and then send the footage to his wife!)

BULLSH!T !!!

It's time seek out a new MANAGER - not a new JOB. Set his asss up and get him fired!