http://www.missoulian.com/…

Although it’s against state policy for employees to play games like solitaire on their office computers, it’s left to each department to decide whether to keep or remove games from the computers.The issue arose recently at the Child Support Enforcement Division in the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Division employees received new computers, but without the games like solitaire, hearts and minesweeper that come with the Microsoft Windows software package. These games had been on the division’s previous computers for years.

Some union and nonunion employees complained that the games weren’t on the new machines, said Lonnie Olson, division administrator. They said some other divisions in the same department had games on their computers.

“I said if they want them, we’ll put them on,” Olson said, adding that he wanted to make sure division employees were treated the same as others in the department.

An anonymous tipster who said he worked in the private sector criticized Olson’s decision.

“If state employees have time to play computer games, then there are too many state employees,” the tipster said in an e-mail to the Helena Independent Record. “As an employee in the private sector, I would run the risk of losing my job if my boss caught me playing games on my computer.”

Olson said he wasn’t aware of anyone abusing the privilege during work hours.

So they hang out before and/or after work to play MS Windows games? I think I agree with the private tipster. However, given the “services” the Department of Public Health and Human Services generally provides I’d rather them playing minesweeper than doing their job.