Garrett Sherrill
Internet misuse is exactly how is sounds. It is using the Internet for anything else other than what your job requires. This can be anything from an employee looking up pornographic websites at work to an employee checking their Facebook while at work. Please read this short
article that Websense, Inc. examines and researches how much Internet misuse actually costs companies.
Personally I have never had a job where I have had access to a computer in front of me on a daily basis. I do know however know how Internet driven all of our lives have become. I imagine that most employees, if they have Internet access at work, abuse their privileges on a daily basis.
OK, so we know that people are on the Internet looking at things other than work related items. I feel that many people use things like Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo as stress relievers during a busy day at work. It might be the only thing that keeps them sane during a hectic work day/week. So in some sense it allows them to step back from their work and take a short break to gather themselves. Which in many cases will help them to be more productive. What are your thoughts? Should employers ban personal use of Internet to employees or should they trust them to use it responsibly while at work? Do you really think internet misuse costs companies as much money as the article suggests?
You touched a great point, using Internet and social networks as a tension reliever can be a positive aspect. I work in a corporation where we have limited Internet access but we always find ways to go around these limitations. For example now, I'm sending this message from my cellphone without causing a negative impact in my overall performance. Great article!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you are correct in saying that it is a small stress reliever from the workday. I think that employees should be responsible enough to monitor their personal use of the internet and how it affects their productivity. With that being said, some people take it too far. I know someone that was that was fired for looking at pornography while at work. (at a hospital!)
ReplyDeleteI do agree the Internet is a stress reliever for certain individuals at work. I also know it can be misused in the workplace. In my line line of work, I have to call my inside sales department for assistance. I know they will get distracted with the use of the Internet and not get the job done. My company had to put restrictions on certain websites like, Facebook, Twitter, etc... The Internet can be costly to certain companies.
ReplyDeletePeople do need breaks, but maybe the internet is the wrong avenue. You are not doing anything for yourself by checking Facebook, and posting twit pics. It may take your mind off of work, but there are a lot of different ways to decompress. A few options would be to go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, or meditate. These alternatives are good for you both mentally, and physically. It would be better for companies to promote something other than leisurely web surfing.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need breaks during days at work and I agree there are other options in the event internet surfing is banned. But I would like to make the point that we have our phones if we really want to get online, so the company can only have so much control over their employees. If the company has good employees then those employees probably have a good sense of limitations and what a break should be. It's all relative to the employee!
ReplyDeletePersonally I do have computer access at work and I can attest that after 6 hrs of staring at a computer non-stop, you need a break. I like to take small breaks here and there throughout the day at work, whether it's a 2 minute check on Facebook or Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteI think it actually affects my productivity in a positive way when I take breaks, otherwise I get tired and am not as efficient.
Reema, out of curiosity, how often would you say that you spend on the internet doing non-related work? A daily average?
DeleteI definitely think that internet misuse within companies is at an all time high. I do not, however, think it is fair to say that internet misuse is the sole contributor of losing this massive amount of money. For example, some companies (especially those with cubicles and heavy paperwork style jobs) can be highly inefficient in the way that they delegate work to employees. I work in a cubicle and I am responsible for several areas at work. I am caught up in all my areas and must simply maintain them. I've asked for more work but there is none to be found. So, I spend a large amount of time browsing the web. Of course, I stop immediately if something related to one of my areas of responsibility emerges, but until then I will browse on freely. Am I wasting money? Maybe. Is it my fault? Not really.
ReplyDeleteIt makes perfect sense that it is costing business millions of dollars but on the other hand it can help a lot as well. It may take people away from doing their scheduled task but sometimes in a business environment it is exactly what is needed. In the accounting field you can after long times looking at the same numbers and spreadsheets studies have shown it is good to take a break and clear the mind. The best way to do this for me is check Twitter and get back to working. If it was not for this I would get bogged down and for some might bear on their freedoms. For me companies should not ban the use of the internet unless they want production to decrease and a hostile work environment.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting to see the amount of misuse quantified and I'm not shocked by it. Obviously some people abuse it more than others. I don't think banning the internet for personal use is the best solution. I browse the internet at work on my downtime but work stuff takes precedent. I can't always leave my desk since I have to answer the newsroom phones so the internet is good for my sanity. I think having some sort of usage policy that is enforced is better than punishing all for the misdeeds of a few.
ReplyDeleteFirst, a company should have a definite policy in place for Internet browsing. Whether that be no personal use at all, 30 minutes per day, or whatever. This needs to be in the employee manual and then followed consistently. Also, it can be done on an individual basis. For example, you may have an employee that spends most of his workday on the Internet, but he seems to be more productive than the person next to him that only spends 5 minutes per day online.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that you can ban grown men and women from the internet during work. Although it may seem like they are wasting time by visiting sites such as Facebook, Twitter, ESPN, and other non-productive site; I think it a good stress reliever like you said. It helps ease workers minds after reading a stressful 20 page report or something of the nature. Maybe executives can figure out a way to maybe limit the time spent on these websites, so it can increase the amount of productivity and also helps them get through the work day.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well, only problem is there has to be a line drawn for employees. And if that line is crossed, consequences have to be in place. Something has to be done before employers lose control
DeleteI think people internet misuse it going to get worse. For one, the bad habits are starting in school. Then when they get to their new job, after graduation, there it goes again. And I think it's fine if it's no more than a half hour out your day total, but spending hours on a job computer to shop or to talk to your friends on FB...do you think you should keep your job? I understand where employers are coming from when they say it's costing them money. How can you be productive if you spend so much time on the internet web surfing? For those who access porn on websites, will usually be fired automatically, then the company has to replace that worker. For those who are just surfing, there may be some warnings, but why look for a paycheck when you've let the internet consume too much of your time at work? Why even go to work if that's what you're going to do? I think people should keep it to a minimum, if they can't then, yes, employers should restrict the websites.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Keinya. It is true that we are all starting bad habits early on in our lives. The sad thing is that it will only get worse. As time goes on technology does not only become more advance, but it also becomes more accessible. With every generation internet misuse will become more prominent. In order to compete with rival companies, employers will have to somehow contain internet misuse by their employees.
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ReplyDeleteWhere I work the only internet use we have in to go to websites related to work. We cannot pull up facebook, twitter, or youtube. The only way I can really use the internet is via my cell phone. I think the internet can be misused if managers don't keep other employees in line and focused on working. When you are busy working and focused on the task at hand there is not time to misuse the internet.
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