GPS-equipped cellphone nabs lazy New York school system employee
GPS is an amazing tool that we typically celebrate in the newest handsets, and we're assuming John Halpin was likely feeling the same until its data was used against him. Aparently, this construction foreman for New York's school system received a phone from his employers and was subsequently caught on some 83 occasions over five months abandoning ship early and heading home. His employers were able to get at all that handy GPS data and see where he was -- we're really hoping only on weekdays -- at any given time throughout the day. While we admire the Man's clever use of new technology, we can't help but feel for Mr. Halpin and the unfortunate -- and arguably privacy invading -- way he was caught. The data also apparently pointed out that he arrived at work as much as two hours early on some days, though that bonus time didn't seem to help his case. We guess from now on we may all be well served by ignoring the age-old advice and looking that gift horse in the mouth. We'll post up the -- hopefully happy -- ending to this story as soon as we hear about it.
[Via TheRawFeed]
[Via TheRawFeed]
Filed under: Handsets
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tobias @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:45PM
whats a GSP-equipped cellphone?
i mean i know GPS... but whats GSP?
:P
Andrew G @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:47PM
I Was wondering the same ^
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/3900/imobileux6.jpg :(
Sean Cooper @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:42PM
It is exactly he same as GPS but this rev. includes a typo to make you all smile :)
Tobias @ Sep 3rd 2007 5:52PM
prolly a global space position system?
gareth @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:07PM
Hmm, shouldn't the fact that he got to work 2 hours early every day counter the fact that he left 2 hours early? MEH, just a thought.
Vinny @ Sep 3rd 2007 8:27PM
From my point of view, it should count for something. Unfortunately for this guy, the New York City School District and the judge presiding over the case don't care about the amount of time he actually worked.
whoster69 @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:41PM
Geez, what a bunch of jerks!!! No privacy from the man eh? Next time just chuck your "gift" in the trash (after some percussive maintenance). Never put up with this nonsense. Teach the man a lesson.
keithwwalker @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:54PM
I don't care whether he falsified his time sheet, left work early to beat the traffic (even though the commute was still 1-1/2 hours), DON'T MESS WITH THE MAN!
By my estimate, he is almost 80 feet tall, is taller than that GPS tower, and can't fit in his own house!
Give some compassion, or else he'll be climbing the Empire State building and they'll have to send biplanes to shoot him down...
keithwwalker @ Sep 3rd 2007 6:55PM
I don't care whether he falsified his time sheet, left work early to beat the traffic (even though the commute was still 1-1/2 hours), DON'T MESS WITH THE MAN!
By my estimate, he is almost 80 feet tall, is taller than that GPS tower, and can't fit in his own house!
Give some compassion, or else he'll be climbing the Empire State building and they'll have to send biplanes to shoot him down...
Gamer90 @ Sep 3rd 2007 8:12PM
So...if he were to leave the phone at work at all times, he would've been praised for his dedication to his job? lol
egloskerry @ Sep 3rd 2007 10:06PM
He probably would've been fired for standing in one place during each of his shifts.
33scottie33 @ Sep 3rd 2007 10:51PM
Due to the type of work, he probably did not take many breaks and worked through lunch. 1 hour missed lunch and breaks + 2 hours early arrival = leave 3 hours early! Adds up to me!
John Maddog @ Sep 3rd 2007 10:57PM
Now if the phone belonged to the employer would it still be an invasion of privacy? If the boss hands you a phone do you pay attention to it or do you just use it to call? Ever look at the back of a bank card and see that it says "Property of ______ Bank"? That is the same thing. They can monitor the card and make you return it if they want to. No invasion of privacy here, just a lazy worker who got caught. Ever seen a construction site up and running at 5 in the morning? He was probably asleep in his car.
~JMD
Captain_Eric @ Sep 4th 2007 7:54AM
I with the last two posters. "No invasion of privacy here, just a lazy worker who got caught." "Why did it take them 83 days to catch on with our taxes still paying him? . . . Also, it is wrong to falsify a time card to show hours that weren't worked."
It seems to me, the "privacy" that certain people want to protect is not so innocent, but instead they don't want people to know that they are doing something they said they were not doing or doing something they shouldn't be doing. Otherwise, what's the harm?
psychodaddyo @ Sep 6th 2007 6:34AM
This proves the adage "those that can, do, those that can't, teach. How did this dumbass get promoted to foreman?
Steven @ Sep 6th 2007 7:19AM
Well heres an easy soloution LEAVE THE PHONE AT WORK and just check your vmail in the morning lol
Benjamin Kartheiser @ Sep 12th 2007 3:31AM
Why did it take them 83 days to catch on with our taxes still paying him? When people mention that he came early I'm sure if the time he was paid for equaled the time worked he would be fine. There must be a discrepancy. Also, it is wrong to falsify a time card to show hours that weren't worked. I personally would find not much wrong in it if he worked the same amount of hours as he was paid (as in working 5a-1p but marking 7a-3p). But I would guess that since he was a foreman he was probably salary and should have been overseeing other workers when they were working. If it wasn't wrong he wouldn't have had to lie or keep it a secret. Someone probably ratted and they just used the phone records to prove it.