We heard a lot of input on this story about employers blocking employees’ access to potentially distracting websites. Commenter Elle said this about her workplace:
There are solutions already in place to limit unnecessary or excessive use of surfing the web during company hours, and they’re mainly about better management. If someone wants to goof off, they will with their cell phone. What’s at risk is denying employees the ability to engage with those outside the walls and find innovative ways to improve the company and what it offers.
The whole situation got me thinking of a friend who lost his job because he was applying for other jobs while he was at work…at his old job…on his company computer. That seems like a big mistake, but it’s not very uncommon, apparently. Harper’s has stats on improper e-mailing.
Chance that a U.S. company monitors the emails of at least some employees: 1 in 3
Chance that it has fired an employee for violation of email policies: 1 in 4
Do you think employers have the right to monitor employee’s e-mails? What if the mail is sent on company time from company equipment? This is a sticky ethical situation, to say the least.
