Internet usage policies have proven essential to any company who has access to the Internet, but are they really necessary?
Studies have shown that the absence of such a policy has lead to sexual and racial harrassment claims and workplace lawsuits. They also pose threats of sabotage, internal security breaches and even electronic viruses which can all cause the company to lose millions of dollars to legal fees, entice media investigations, and create a public relations nightmare. Establishing a policy for Internet usage of which employees are made aware and
which is properly enforced can harness incidents of Internet misuse and create a
healthy, more productive work environment, but how effective can these policies be?
The policies are only as effective as the implementation and control efforts. There is no purpose in having an Internet use policy if employees do not respect it and if managers do not enforce it. I know that at my previous workplace, the Restaurant POS station had an Internet connection and there was never anything said about an Internet policy. Since management didn't address it, I would come to work and print out assignments for school when I didn't have a printer or money to pay for it here at school. Not only that, but my co-workers and I used to get on Facebook a lot when we were talking to share pictures, etc. Management never said a word, but we made sure not to say a word to them either.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they are necessary, only in that I think that everyone in the world thinks like me. I don't use the internet at work for anything but work use, unless I have completely finished all of my work. I know the world isn't full of people like me, but businesses should not care as long as their work is getting done. Inetrnet using no matter what is a part of life and all people need to deal with it.
ReplyDelete@ShelbyRaye, I totally agree with the whole don't ask-don't tell of using the Internet at work. I too, have used the work Internet and computer for personal use and because I had my own personal space did not think much about it. But how would you handle that if your employer did present you with an usage policy?
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