You're not necessarily an addict just because you like surfing the web in your free time. According to Vault.com, 47% of employees send up to five personal emails per day, 32% send up to 10 personal emails and 28% send as many as 20 personal messages. Internet misuse doesn't necessarily mean you are just on your personal email sending messages, it can be anything from checking Facebook to visiting sports sites, or looking at the current stock prices for the day.
Has anyone ever been caught visiting non business related websites while on the job? What consequences were made because of it?
If you were a boss, how would you discipline your employees if you caught them on a personal website that was non business related?
If I was a boss and my employees were using the internet for personal use, I would be lenient depending on the degree of use. It's foolish in today's technological era, where ubiquity reigns supreme, to think that employees can only work on work for 8 hours a day. I think its important to realize that employees have a life outside work environments such as important family issues that may need to be taken care of.
ReplyDeleteThat said, employees shouldn't take advantage of that leniency. If they are spending more than an hour each day using internet for personal use, then it certainly needs to be addressed.
But I don't see the need to punish someone for sending an email once a day to family or other important matters.
I agree with Timothy and believe it definitely depends on what they are doing while on the job. I don't believe time spent at work should be used for checking facebook to see who has "liked" your latest status, but if it has to do with something like making sure someone is picking up your kid up from school, then I think that is acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI personally have worked in a office where internet was actually allowed, whenever I was finished with my daily duties I would surf the net until it was time to go home. I like the fact that we had the freedom to use the internet as much as we wanted; but I did not realized how much it hurt my productivity or how much it was costing the company.
ReplyDeleteI have also worked for companies where internet has been restricted, the company would only allow employees to visit websites that are only related to the job; nevertheless, nowadays everybody has a smart phone in which they would be able to receive and send emails/messages, and visit websites without holding the company responsible.
I agree with Tim there cannot be strict rules for your employees like this or it will only lead to counter activity. If you don't allow people this kind of freedom it will have an overall negative affect in the workplace. Motivating your employees in other ways would be more effective than trying to restrict their freedom.
ReplyDeletei can not say they i was ever caught doing this at work, but definitly in school. of course everyone gets a little mischievous and wants to browse around. why not? i think it is healthy to clear your mind and take breaks from work.
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