Webmaster forum - OT: The perils of making everything web-based

Author

OT: The perils of making everything web-based

MGW

2006-11-19, 7:55 pm

As some of you know, I started a new job a few weeks ago. Whenever
I've started jobs in the past, I was given an orientation in the first
day or two where I was given a packet of forms to fill out to choose
among various benefits, insurance policies, etc. and then given an ID
number, taken someplace to have my picture taken and almost
immediately got my ID card. Once everything was turned in, someone
entered the data into the institution's computer system. I got paid
in the first pay period after I'd been there about a week or so. Quick
and straight-forward, even at large university's.

So I start at Large Famous University on October 23. LFU uses one of
these new online employee benefits management systems. Can't access
it until you get an ID number. Can't get an ID number until they've
processed your paperwork. First the people at the Medical Campus have
to process the hiring, then send it to Main Campus people. So I have
now finished my 3rd week of work (tomorrrow's a holiday in the U.S.)
and do not have a working ID #, still using temporary access cards
that keep failing because they aren't supposed to last more than 1-2
weeks, can't get a paycheck until I've been processed, can't choose my
insurance company (insurance is retroactive to hire date, but I'll
have to pay everythign out-of-pocket and then get reimbursed), can't
get employee rates for on-campus concerts like the one my son and I
want to attend next week...

Call me a Luddite, but I'd give a lot to go back to the old
paper-based system!

--
MGW
Statistics means never having to say you're certain.

(Note: my Hotmail address is seldom checked)

Matt Probert

2006-11-19, 7:55 pm

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:24:42 -0500, MGW <mgw1979@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Call me a Luddite, but I'd give a lot to go back to the old
>paper-based system!

You and me both. How does the saying go? Keep It Simple Silly?

Matt

--
Woe to him that willfully innovates, while ignorant of the constant.
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com

Charles Sweeney

2006-11-19, 7:57 pm

MGW wrote

> As some of you know, I started a new job a few weeks ago. Whenever
> I've started jobs in the past, I was given an orientation in the first
> day or two where I was given a packet of forms to fill out to choose
> among various benefits, insurance policies, etc. and then given an ID
> number, taken someplace to have my picture taken and almost
> immediately got my ID card. Once everything was turned in, someone
> entered the data into the institution's computer system. I got paid
> in the first pay period after I'd been there about a week or so. Quick
> and straight-forward, even at large university's.
>
> So I start at Large Famous University on October 23. LFU uses one of
> these new online employee benefits management systems. Can't access
> it until you get an ID number. Can't get an ID number until they've
> processed your paperwork. First the people at the Medical Campus have
> to process the hiring, then send it to Main Campus people. So I have
> now finished my 3rd week of work (tomorrrow's a holiday in the U.S.)
> and do not have a working ID #, still using temporary access cards
> that keep failing because they aren't supposed to last more than 1-2
> weeks, can't get a paycheck until I've been processed, can't choose my
> insurance company (insurance is retroactive to hire date, but I'll
> have to pay everythign out-of-pocket and then get reimbursed), can't
> get employee rates for on-campus concerts like the one my son and I
> want to attend next week...
>
> Call me a Luddite, but I'd give a lot to go back to the old
> paper-based system!

LOL! Bloody computers!

Hope the new job is going well.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com

MGW

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

On 12 Nov 2006 11:48:25 GMT, Charles Sweeney <me@charlessweeney.com>
scrawled:

>
> LOL! Bloody computers!

I'll be fair - the problem is the bloody idjuts who don't know how to
set up procedures to work with the computers.

> Hope the new job is going well.

It is. Strange to be in an office 5 days/week for the first time in
16 years. People are nice and helpful and, most important of all,
understand that it will take me awhile to relearn Unix and SAS and
learn all about clinical trials and AIDS. Everyone knows it take 3-6
months for a new biostatistician to learn the ropes, which takes a lot
of pressure off me. And it will certainly be nice to get regular
paychecks!

--
MGW
Statistics means never having to say you're certain.

(Note: my Hotmail address is seldom checked)