Today more and more businesses out there have computers with internet access on them. The problem though is that they realize employees are using the access for personal things on work time. This can range from simply checking emails and replying, surfing the internet, and even looking at pornographic materials. People have created online photo albums, chatted in online dating sites, and much more all on work time.
To offset the wasted time on such things, many employers are cracking down. They prohibit the use of email except for business use. They also don’t want anyone on the internet unless it pertains to work. There are ways for them to monitor how much time a computer has been online, the sites that have been viewed, and the passwords that were used for someone to log into that computer. This is going to help them track down the employees that aren’t using their time as it should be spent while in the office.
Many employers also ask their employees to keep a log of when they look at things online. That way if they are searching for a restaurant to meet a client at or something along those lines they won’t get in trouble for using the internet on business time for personal use.
Most providers of internet access offer this type of monitoring report free of charge to the employers. They want to provide a service that increases the chances of them staying the provider for that company. Even if your employer isn’t telling you that they are monitoring such use it may be in place. You don’t want to take the risk of getting caught so make sure you aren’t using the computers at work to access personal things online.
In many ways that is an ethical issue. Are you stealing from the company because you aren’t using the time you get paid for to actually work? This is a common question but many employees justify it by saying that they have too much work on their plate or that they don’t get paid enough for the work that they do complete.
Most employers out there feel that a monitoring system in place is necessary. It isn’t that they don’t trust their employees but that they recognize the deep temptation that can be present. They need employees to focus on their work and to give their all for the hours they are being paid for.
Many employers are also sharing the monitoring system with their new employees. They want to make it clear from the very start that will be checking up on that. Employees are often asked to sign an agreement too that states an employee can be terminated for using the internet for personal use while on business time.
However, with so many people out there addicted to the internet, this has become a serious issue. It is believed that millions of dollars annually are lost due to the fact that employees aren’t doing their work. Instead they are online and it isn’t’ for any purpose that is beneficial to the company.