Internet Usage in the Work Place

[karrie]

If you were an employer, how much internet surfing would you tolerate?

Would you put up with hourly wage workers surfing the net? Salaried workers?

How many hours a day of surfing would you see as a red flag that someone's position needs to be cut or at least limited?

 

[Chiliagon]

depends on type of job, the situation it is in, how much work there is to do in a typical day, their policies, etc.

 

[karrie]

depends on type of job, the situation it is in, how much work there is to do in a typical day, their policies, etc.

yeah, I kind of figured as much given the questions I asked Chili... lol.

personally, I've always said salaried workers are where I don't really see an issue. Hourly wage workers, to me that's tantamount to theft. But, even with salaried workers, if they're clearly bored and constantly looking for stuff to do on the net, I've come to think I'd end up cutting their work week and salary down.

 

[lone wolf]

If your wage is based on commission sales, feel free to play online all you want. One former employer had the best idea: Steal for me ... not from me.

 

[Chiliagon]

yeah, I kind of figured as much given the questions I asked Chili... lol.

personally, I've always said salaried workers are where I don't really see an issue. Hourly wage workers, to me that's tantamount to theft. But, even with salaried workers, if they're clearly bored and constantly looking for stuff to do on the net, I've come to think I'd end up cutting their work week and salary down.

ya I'm Salary based, so I get paid no matter how many hours I work. and then I have OT. but our work is kinda inconsistent.

there are days when there's very little work at all, sitting and waiting. Then there are days where there is quite a bit of work, almost constant moving around, phone calls etc.

I guess it's just that kind of work environment.

so I know when to pick and choose my times to slack and when I know I must get my work done.


I am only really on here when I have no work to do.

 

[Liberalman]

Depending on what sites the employee goes on and if it has anything to do with work.

If the surfing is not related to work then that person can handle extra work.

 

[wulfie68]

It depends. If they have everything they need to get done wrapped up, and nothing better to do then have at it. If its a slow time of year (i.e. spring break up in the oil patch) even less of an issue. I had a boss who would even use that a bit and subtly herd us toward more work related web surfing by asking if we'd seen anything online about technical subjects or papers. A lot of companies in a variety of industries need to keep staff on to ensure they have everything covered for their prime income seasons and that means treating your people decent all year long so they don't feel an urge to walk out when you need them (or your competitor comes calling...). Now admittedly thats more for skilled (and likely salaried) positions than unskilled but it applies to all to a certain degree.Unemployment may be around 10% but good people are always in demand.

 

[Cliffy]

My job basically requires me to baby sit 12 computers for free public access to the internet. We do some training for seniors and answer questions from users, but the vast majority of the time, I am on this forum or surfing. How is that! I get paid to be here. Couldn't ask for a better job!

 

[Outta here]

If you were an employer, how much internet surfing would you tolerate?

Would you put up with hourly wage workers surfing the net? Salaried workers?

How many hours a day of surfing would you see as a red flag that someone's position needs to be cut or at least limited?

Why, what have you heard?! It's all lies!

 

[Risus]

If surfing is not work related, it should be banned on company time. OK during breaks, though.

 

[gingersnap]

If surfing is not work related, it should be banned on company time. OK during breaks, though.

What he (she?) said.

I'm on salary and there is no way I would go on the net except when I'm on my break. If I had an employee on commission that was goofing around on the computer, I'd get rid of them and find someone who could drum up more sales instead of wasting time playing Farmville.

 

[karrie]

Why, what have you heard?! It's all lies!

I've just been trying to figure out if I count as 'salaried'. lol.

 

[Ron in Regina]

If you were an employer, how much internet surfing would you tolerate?

Would you put up with hourly wage workers surfing the net? Salaried workers?

How many hours a day of surfing would you see as a red flag that someone's position needs to be cut or at least limited?

Good Question. I worked for a company for 1/2 a decade (until last year) where,
when it was slow, or when you had finished everything you could do work related,
then you where encouraged to do whatever you had to in order to stay sane.

I could only read just so much about legislation (province to province, state to state,
province to state & visa-versa, & internationally) that pertained to the specific
segment of the transportation industry that we where involved in.

Between reports & solving border issues, or enforcement issues, or maintenance
issues, or recruiting & training new owner operators, or truck design & builds, etc...
I'd play on the internet to stay sane until the next crisis, & was encouraged to do so.
It meant I was handy to step in and deal with whatever fire came up next as I was
right beside a phone.

I was a salaried employee though, and not being paid by the hour. I didn't fit into
any of the questions you are asking about in the Opening Post. It was a cool but
weird job, & it went away with the tanking of the U.S. economy leading to some
very protectionist (more than normal) practices in the field that I was in. Many of
the Canadian companies got choked out or shrank hugely in order to survive,
until attitudes change (American protectionism towards Canadian companies in
that market) and growth without many unofficial hurdles are dropped again.

 

[Ariadne]

yeah, I kind of figured as much given the questions I asked Chili... lol.

personally, I've always said salaried workers are where I don't really see an issue. Hourly wage workers, to me that's tantamount to theft. But, even with salaried workers, if they're clearly bored and constantly looking for stuff to do on the net, I've come to think I'd end up cutting their work week and salary down.

I completely disagree. I personally know a woman, a professional engineer, who got hooked on a murder investigation and was commenting on a forum while at work. She was still getting her work done. One day, she was called to the floor, and questioned about her internet use. She was immediately suspended pending a review, and, after two weeks, summarily fired. I don't think how someone is paid plays a part in employee expectations. It took her months to find a new position.

Recently, a friend retired and took a new position with the city. He's a highly respected lawyer. He was called to the floor and told that it had been noticed that he'd spent more than 200 hours on the BBC website the previous week. In fact, he had opened the site and left it open. He was told to be more careful.

School boards have certain words that are tagged. If they appear in email, the email is reviewed. That is why we once in a while hear, in the news, about teachers emailing porn and other inappropriate info. Post-secondary institutions also review what people do with their computers. Those people are terminated, and an email is fired around says "__________ is no longer an employee effective immediately."

It's understood when people are hired that they understand appropriate computer use, and many organizations do not give second chances. I wouldn't take a chance ... but some people seem to think it won't happen to them, and do what they want with their work computers until they are marched off the property.

What he (she?) said.

I'm on salary and there is no way I would go on the net except when I'm on my break. If I had an employee on commission that was goofing around on the computer, I'd get rid of them and find someone who could drum up more sales instead of wasting time playing Farmville.

I agree. Someone screwing around on the internet at any time during work is like someone regularly coming in late, or often taking a break. How many breaks are acceptable during the work day? After a couple of coffees and lunch, none. Even if someone is only commenting on a forum 8 times a day, their mind is not on their work. I would have zero tolerance.

 

[Curiosity]

Interesting situations - so many of them have their dedicated issues depending upon the nature of the job, the hours committed and the worker involved.

I believe many people waste employer time on the internet but if it is a relaxation method which helps employees download their emotional stuff during the work day - why not? If you can't trust your employee
on the internet - why are they your employee? Sharing company secrets can be done in real life as well as internet chat - and employes know the difference - or should know.

I'm self-employed and I find reading other people's lives extremely interesting - like small mini-novels going on daily and it clears my head for the next period of my work time. Some days I have gaps of two or three hours and don't feel like leaving my office - so I relax and join the geek gang....absolutely love it for recreation and it is great company on a weekend when I don't have anything "social" to do.

 

[karrie]

Guys, Curio called us geeks!!

 

[Praxius]

If you were an employer, how much internet surfing would you tolerate?

Would you put up with hourly wage workers surfing the net? Salaried workers?

How many hours a day of surfing would you see as a red flag that someone's position needs to be cut or at least limited?

If that person browsing the net is waiting for work or waiting for someone else to provide information for them to complete their work, I don't have an issue..... if someone needs to go on the net to obtain graphics, textures, guidelines and/or plugins for a program or project.... I don't have an issue.

If they're doing it on their lunch or breaks, even when they have a pile of work to do, I don't have an issue.

The only time I have an issue is when:

• Person in question seems to be on the internet every time you go see them, their work is piled up and other employees and customers are complaining about long waits and what takes a normal person to do something, seems to take much longer for that particular person.

• When they are browsing inappropriate material for the workplace in question.

 

[Curiosity]

Karrie is geek a bad name???

If so I am disappointed - I would love to be included as a geek - I was so slow to learn the internet and when I finally learned to navigate social forums I thought I'd gone to heaven or some days the other place.

My life has been enriched by the little electronic wonder and the people at the other end I would never in a couple of lifetimes have an opportunity to meet. I think it's a privilege.

 

[Goober]

Good Question. I worked for a company for 1/2 a decade (until last year) where,
when it was slow, or when you had finished everything you could do work related,
then you where encouraged to do whatever you had to in order to stay sane.

I could only read just so much about legislation (province to province, state to state,
province to state & visa-versa, & internationally) that pertained to the specific
segment of the transportation industry that we where involved in.

Between reports & solving border issues, or enforcement issues, or maintenance
issues, or recruiting & training new owner operators, or truck design & builds, etc...
I'd play on the internet to stay sane until the next crisis, & was encouraged to do so.
It meant I was handy to step in and deal with whatever fire came up next as I was
right beside a phone.

I was a salaried employee though, and not being paid by the hour. I didn't fit into
any of the questions you are asking about in the Opening Post. It was a cool but
weird job, & it went away with the tanking of the U.S. economy leading to some
very protectionist (more than normal) practices in the field that I was in. Many of
the Canadian companies got choked out or shrank hugely in order to survive,
until attitudes change (American protectionism towards Canadian companies in
that market) and growth without many unofficial hurdles are dropped again.

We have a policy for the Internet - Mine - As the Security Officers have dead time - mids to morning but must be at the gatehouse for deliveries etc - the can cruise the Internet - same with days and afternoons - A little bit is OK - I like to read the news when having my break - same with others.

When i noticed high usage i put out a clear guideline. And it was worded in a very polite manner

Then some idiot cleared the history.

They were all informed in no uncertain terms that I would never treat anyone as whoever did the history clearing as they implied I was stupid.

That I could at any time call our IT and get all the info on Internet usage, sites visited, time etc.

And if the BS continued the Internet would be password protected.

I try to take the laid back approach - works better than yelling or making empty threats.

Have not had a problem since.

 

[karrie]

Karrie is geek a bad name???

If so I am disappointed - I would love to be included as a geek - I was so slow to learn the internet and when I finally learned to navigate social forums I thought I'd gone to heaven or some days the other place.

My life has been enriched by the little electronic wonder and the people at the other end I would never in a couple of lifetimes have an opportunity to meet. I think it's a privilege.

lol, no it's not a bad name, it made me laugh.