Should personal use of the internet be allowed in the workplace and when is it misuse? In my opinion, it depends on what the internet is being used for. Obviously, the internet should not be used at work to look at pornographic websites or to be on an online dating site for an hour or two. However, I think your place of employment should let you have the freedom to take a few minutes to check your personal email, to buy those tickets for tonight's NBA basketball game, or to check that important auction on Ebay.
I have more respect for my employer if I get my work done and my employer lets me have some freedom to quickly do some personal business on the internet. I would hate to work for a company that rules like an iron fist and says no personal use of the internet at all.
There has to be a balance on internet use in the workplace. It is obviously misuse if you are on explicit websites or using the internet so much, you are not getting your work done. I don't think it is misuse if you just take a few minutes to use the internet for your own need.
I hope to post facts, experiences, and opinions on Internet Misuse in the Workplace as the semester goes on.
I believe internet use in the workplace is a slippery slope. On one hand like the blogger suggest no one wants to be ruled with an "Iron Fist". On the other hand if the employer does extend that freedom will it be taken advantage of?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I can't stand to be micro-managed by workplace authorities. I feel that if I do what is expected of me, and am ahead, some Internet usage is fine. Overall, in my opinion it is a case by case or company by company scenario, that should be taken into consideration by all senior management.
I think that Employees with Internet access on the job are abusing the privilege by spending hours sending and receiving personal email, socializing in chat rooms, and playing interactive games. For instance If an employee makes 60 photocopies for personal use per month, and each copy costs the firm 5 cents, the amount wasted by a company with 200 employees will be $600 monthly, or $7,200 annually. Therefore, I support the fact that companies must implement procedures to control internet misuses in the workplace.
ReplyDeleteIn high school, I was in a class called auto cad and all of the computers had the internet blocked so that we could not use them for anything but working on auto cad programs.. it was very beneficial to my grades at the time, because it forced me to do my work and not play on the internet.
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