News: Should You Be Fired for Using the Internet While at Work?

[inahacker]

Should You Be Fired for Using the Internet While at Work?

Freeman Klopott, Medill News Service
Tue May 2, 4:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON-- BlackBerry devices. Cell phones. Pagers. Wireless Internet access. Broadband at home. The growing list of communications technologies that links workers to the workplace 24/7 increasingly is blurring the lines between work and home.

Full story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/125597

[MoFo]

interesting, but kinda posted in the wrong section.

[Sudden Death]

BlackBerry devices. yeah my dads 'lines are getting blured.. he has a blackberry and his work force him 2 take it with him all the time in case of an emergency. Even if he goes on holiday he needs 2 take his blackberry and his work mobile.. But thats not really to do with the question anyway. No i dont think they should get fired but i think they should get warned :x

Can anyone post int he news section now? 0.0 or was it moved?

[-AsS]

Inahacker, stop spamming the news forum, lol xD

[the_faith01]

Inahacker, stop spamming the news forum
yeh and 2 be a real mpc supporter u need 2 subscribe i think admin should remove his avatar...

[bigbang]

i voted with a yes, because you're getting paid to work and not to surf the internet on your workstation. you can surf the pr0n on the internet later in your private time.

[Sudden Death]

yeh and 2 be a real mpc supporter u need 2 subscribe i think admin should remove his avatar... whats a Supporter :x i know of helper subscriber etc. but supporter? isnt it the same as subscriber? I support MPC but dont subscribe :x

i voted with a yes, because you're getting paid to work and not to surf the internet on your workstation. you can surf the pr0n on the internet later in your private time. doesnt mean u get fired. Lots of people do things theyre not getting paid for at work but that doesnt mean they get fired. Depends on how often u do it i guess :x

[Conker]

i voted no, simply because it depends what they use it for, if they just use it to check mail or browse a few sites when they aren't busy... oh well, but if they do pr0n or d-loading music, syncing ipod etc... basically using it to their extreme advantage then they should get warned... firing is too harsh, if they are a repeat offender then yeah fire them if they have been warned and haven't bothered listening

[Rented]

fcuk work

agree with u there :)

well its depends on how constructivly they use their time etc. if they got no work then heck , why not? but if they are not workin and just messing around on the net then i think its wrong..

IMAGINE HOW MANY MAN HOURS ARE WASTED EACH DAY BY PEOPLE AT WORK MESSING AROUND ON THE NET!?!?!? - could be a nice figure to find out about?

Rented

[scruie]

If an employee is abusing the 'net access then they should be warned, written warning and then fired - this is in accordance with UK employment laws. However an employer should clearly state what is acceptable internet use. Most will instantly dismiss a member of staff for looking at pr0n. And no company should allow ppl to use ipods, USB flash drives etc at work for the security risks they entail.
I know of several companies that will allow staff to surf the 'net during breaks/lunch hour, but they block access to certain sites. Most even monitor what the user is surfing and/or doing at their work station so 'dismissal cases' can be built and not argued against later in court.

[Reload3d]

i voted no because sometimes i need help on a problem like 5+3 and i use google to answer it

[xTc-Droop]

I voted "no" cause some people have to use the Inet for work, plus weather can help with work....So if a hurricane comes or something they won't be stuck in work with a hurricane...

[Conker]

i think he meant if you don't need to use the net krownboard and reloaded

[Shinosuke]

i dont think i should get fired for surfing, sometimes it's relaxing, as long as i do my work, and get my job done.
if i am not ALLOWED to do any other things, i will go crazy staying infront of the computer.

and, it's useful for other things FOR work. :x

[Dark Blaze]

As long as using the internet is done during break time hours (coffee time, lunch break, etc) then it's okay. If it is done for research for work, it is also fine. However, if you are doing it to download, play games, etc then there is a need for a warning. No one should get fired for such a matter, but a warning is appropriate. Ignoring the warning and continuing should be "banned" from using the internet.

There are a lot of companies that require the internet as part of their work, so that is completely acceptable to have, especially if it does not obstract your work performance in any way.

[Sudden Death]

There are a lot of companies that require the internet as part of their work, so that is completely acceptable to have, especially if it does not obstract your work performance in any way. I thought he meant using it for things that wern't to do with work, but he didnt actually say that so yes i agree that if its 2 do with work in any way then its fine.
i dont think i should get fired for surfing, sometimes it's relaxing, as long as i do my work, and get my job done. thats true but it depends whether ur doing it in a break or when u should be working.

Even if u do stuff ur not meant 2 at work on the internet I dont see how they would find out unless they track ur history or something but u could just change it. At my school they can see what each computers doing, but I dont think they'd be able to do that for a company where everyone is on the computers.

[Conker]

yeah they would, they will have a server (like our school) with admins and tech people and they will be able to take over screens and stuff easy, and they could probably just make a list come up of all the sites visited by all the staff, then they can see if their are any 'naughty' 1's and see who visited those sites

[scruie]

At my school they can see what each computers doing, but I dont think they'd be able to do that for a company where everyone is on the computers.

If thay can monitor a school's network and amchines what makes you think that companies won't?

Most of the banks monitor all activity on a machine and in some cases either block access to certain sites or have a list of allowed sites to visit. My brother's company have just upgraded to server 2003 from NT4 so they can better monitor staff 'net activity and they sent a memo out to state that using company machines for ebay will result in dismissal.

I remember a case some years back where a private email was leaked and the parties involved were sacked for mis-use of company equipment. In this day and age it's becoming more of an issue what clasifies as mis-used of company equipment; generally it's the companies to decide what is allowed and what isn't. And most will have you sign some form of contract regarding company policy over internet use at work; best to read it carefully.

I'm guessing that most of you who say it's fine to surf while at work are still at school. Well your in for a rude awakening when you hit the real-world...