Should Employers Monitor Employees Internet use – Yes
Different corporations, government agencies, small enterprises, universities, schools, healthcare facilities, all command different internet usage policies for their employees. Detailed instructions in these policies may or may not promote internet use during working hours, even if they enhance the skills of workers. On the other hand, because I work for a small company, I have operational duties online. My internet usage is not monitored and I have the resources to sign on the net' to research any topic, of any non job-related issue I choose. As a matter of fact, I am currently writing this from my employer's computer, during working hours. I am certain it won't be a problem because there isn't a policy for internet use here. And because I am a trusted individual whose work is always completed ahead of schedule and due to other viable alternatives with policies here, it is probable that I will never have an internet use policy in place.
Non-policy is not the case for many other employees whose internet use is monitored. So the question is: Should employers monitor employees' internet use? Yes, and here are some reasons when and why they should:
When a company believes there is a possibility they will be sued due to an employee's online behavior or they are being sued.
When an employee has access to company information and specifically: social security numbers, bank account information, background information, tax information.
When an employee spends more time on the internet instead of time implementing required duties.
When an employee is viewing adult porn, child pornography; or viewing any irreputable, disgusting, abnormal website during working hours.
Because viruses, threats and worms spread through chat rooms, email and various internet websites.
The list could go on and the reasons are not indictments. They simply happen. Because most of them typically do not relate to the average employee; they are just precautionary measures. Nevertheless, as the internet continues to be a place that stages hackers, thieves, and people who commit crimes against nature, there will be a constant effort to monitor the workplace internet use or the history trail left behind.
In most offices, the monitoring will likely not be about an employee anyhow. It is simply an employer's way of doing business, while taking precautions. In one comparison, employee internet monitoring is like the virus scans on your home computer. It monitors insecure sites, tracks history, lists errors and quarantines viruses.
Internet monitoring alternatively could circumscribe maintaining a PC or laptop. The bottom line is: If an employer chooses to monitor your internet usage, they are simply conducting good business policies today. If you object and you feel hounded, be aware that feelings will not get you a promotion. In the end, it could save an employer from having to buy a new computer or several other components.
If you consider your employer guidelines and if you work where you have capability to sign on or if for no other reason; commit yourself to helping keep your employer's computer equipment up and running smooth. For instance, if you surf the internet all year long on your employer's computer (or write at work) and never clean your temporary internet files, that means your employer will have to do it. While this short exercise saves ample hard drive space, most employees' computer departments or his/her employers should demand that this is routine for all of their workers who use the internet. Otherwise, they will have to do it.
Simply put, cleaning up internet files is a simple task of maintaining a computer. An employee could very well be mistaking it for employee monitoring if they are not familiar with the maintenance task and its purpose. Are you being watched or is your computer? And are you clogging up the system?
