knapplc wrote:I'm a big-time multitasker. I have four tabs on my browser open right now, and usually it's a few more. I have work research, news, radio, the Cafe and usually some other sites up like weather, etc. I also have spreadsheets, databases, forms & documents and inter-office messenger windows open. I can handle this and still stay ahead of the game on my goals and expectations, which is why it's a real bummer that they've taken away my access to the Dark Side. I get that there are people in my agency who cannot do this and who let work slide to play online, but it still stinks. Corporal punishment is a drag.
I usually have 6-8 tabs up on Chrome (preferred browser), a few tabs open on Firefox, and sometimes I use IE, Opera, and Safari for testing (it's just good practice). Photoshop, Flash, Git (version control), a programming environment (Eclipse, normally), and a Linux virtual environment (Kubuntu or Ubuntu usually). Also, the customary IM, mail client, and even a Twitter client open as my incoming news feed.
Multitasking is serious fun. I can understand employers want their employees to be less distracted with so many windows/apps open, maybe even in good faith to lessen their chances of burnout. It's still counterproductive for employers to act as watchdogs over their employees' Internet activity. Ensuring confidentiality of work-related matters is fine. Measuring how many minutes a day an employee visits say, the Cafe, is counterproductive. As long as the work gets done, then really it shouldn't be a problem.
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I always have 15+ tabs/windows/applications open at work.
