The Eye in the Sky? Internet Abuse On The Job

The fact that many employers have furnished their employees with more-or-less unrestricted access to the Internet and e-mail has caused a bit of a stir in the business community.

By Peter Filardo, thingamajob.com Staff Writer

Can the Internet jeopardize your job? Shopping online, e-mailing friends, instant messaging family members, or even working on your personal Web site at work could earn you your walking papers. Some employees' personal use of the World Wide Web has gotten so out of hand, companies are implementing usage policies and communications monitoring, which has signaled the attention of the federal government.

"Some companies... monitor employee communications, such as Internet usage, e-mail, and in some cases, computer keystrokes."

The Pros and Cons

A study commissioned by Elron Software of Burlington, Massachusetts found a dramatic increase in companies establishing official web and e-mail usage policies for their employees. There was a reported 20% increase in companies establishing web usage policies and nearly a 15% increase in e-mail usage polices. Despite these precautions, one in three employees stated that they spend 25 minutes or more daily surfing the Internet for personal reasons. Some describe such flagrant abuses as coworkers using their corporate Internet accounts to view adult material and even job-hunting. Furthermore, employers must not only monitor e-mail, but also the growing popularity of live chat or instant messaging that may slow productivity in the workplace.

This would seem like a major problem, however companies don't seem to mind, unless the e-mails involve confidential company information. Many employers view personal use of the Internet as a chance for employees to develop their technology skills and in turn increase their productivity.

'Confidential Use Only'

What appears largest on the radar screen of employers is the leakage of confidential information via e-mail. The Elron study found a staggering 170% increase in employees who admitted to receiving confidential information via e-mail from workers at other companies. This has led some companies to monitor employee communications, such as Internet usage, e-mail, and in some cases, computer keystrokes.

The possibility that employers are snooping on their employee's e-mail has led Congress to propose a bill prohibiting companies from secretly monitoring e-mail and Internet usage. The bill, known the Notice of Electronic Monitoring Act (H.R. 4908), wouldn't stop companies from e-snooping, but it would require employers to notify the employees that the monitoring was occurring.

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