If I am at work and there is no business and nothing to do, is it stealing to sit on the computer?

Question

my boss fusses at me cuz i get on here...i work at a coffee shop and no customers and everything is cleaned up and made...is this robbing the shop? is reading a book different from being on here?

Answer 1

As a boss, I must tell you there is always something to do! You just may have to look for something.

I wouldn't so much call it stealing from them, but surfing the net is entertainment and when you are being paid to be at a job, your soul focus should be on the job, not the internet.

My last office gal was seriously playing computer games instead of working and I sent her home for it. If I'm paying her to be here to "work", I expect her to be doing something. Clean if nothing else!

Answer 2

You shouldn't be reading a book either.

You're being paid to work there as an employee.  There is never "nothing to do" and "everything" is cleaned up.  There is always more that can be done, like an even more thorough cleaning (deep into corners and hidden areas), organizing stock and things being sold so that they look pristine and perfectly ordered, etc.

That's the difference between an employee who's going to succeed in this career and their future careers and an employee who's just collecting a paycheck and the first candidate to be let go.

If you think things will always be exciting and busy in your future jobs too, you have a big reality check coming.  There are plenty of days where you will have absolutely nothing to do, but you will be expected to find something and even create something to do.  

Or else you'll be fired.

Want to play games all day?  First you need to work really hard.  Then you need to work for yourself.  When you are your own boss, earning your own money as they boss, then you can make the call to not earn money for a few hours and play games instead.

Answer 3

Not unless you prevent someone else (who actually works there and has a higher right to the computer) from using the computer.

Answer 4

no your only there to run the place and if everythings taken care of you should be allowed to chill out an get on

Answer 5

Nah dude its your right as a citizen .....Its your right as an American!

Answer 6

It not stealing, and I'll tell you why. Its your manager's job to manage you. If there is stuff around the place that needs doing, he should be getting you to do that. If there is nothing to do, he'll burn out his employee if the employee isn't doing something. What are you going to do, stand at attention all day?

However, you do have to drop whatever you are doing and do what he says, when he says it. I'm surprised that he's fussing. Tell him to stop fussing and if he want's to see you doing stuff, clean out teh back room, or get him to find some other projects for you to do instead of you just surfing the internet. Fussing is just moronic. It burns him out, turns you in c**p (because he's probably just worried about $$$) and it doesn't actually get anything done.

Answer 7

Yeah, I'd say it's stealing. But that doesn't mean we don't all do it. =)

Answer 8

It depends what you're doing on the computer. Are you using it to improve your knowledge of a topic related to your job. Or are you using it to answer and ask questions on Yahoo? It really is up to your boss, he/she is the one that is paying you for your time. If he/she wants you to sit at the counter and stare at a wall until customers come in, then that is what you should do. If you have suggestions on other things to do maybe you should just ask.

Good luck.

Answer 9

It's not stealing, but you could get fired for it.  If your boss doesn't like it, then don't do it.  Get a book, ask him for something to do, or look for something yourself.