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Working It Out ; Be Careful How You Use Your Work Computer
For the last 10 years, I've had conversations with managers who were
frustrated by employee misuse of computers. At first it was Solitaire. Many employees would begin the work day with a quick game of Solitaire. Throughout the day, they would launch repeated games of
Solitaire.
These frustrated managers have taken different approaches to dealing with
gaming. Some had all computers stripped of all games. Others offered a "before or after work" policy. Employees have permission to play computer games any time they aren't on the clock.
Gaming while on the clock results in disciplinary action. Others managers
have changed their approach to monitoring computer use; they've chosen to focus on productivity. Their approach is to ignore gaming as long as an employee is getting the work done. If the employee uses
gaming as a way to relieve stress and get the work done, no problem.
While gaming remains a frustration for some managers, a different, more
serious kind of misuse is being discussed now. The solutions and consequences are also more serious. Last week, a handful of employees were fired from jobs they loved for using the Internet access to
visit porn sites on the Web. No one saw them visit the sites. No manager walked by, saw the screen and acted on that information. No one had to.
This company like many, many, many others has the software in place to
monitor computer use. And monitor they do. The software tracks every Web site employees visit. On a scheduled basis, a search is conducted, using key words, to identify who has been to inappropriate
sites. The most recent review confirmed these employees had made repeated visits to porn sites. None could claim the visits were accidental. The employees were terminated. Some were at the management
level.
My first question upon hearing of the situation was, "How do you go
home and tell your spouse you were fired for visiting a porn site while at work?"
This same company is also reviewing Internet visits to popular sites that
are unrelated to work, such as eBay. It's likely that this information will be considered in promotion opportunities, performance evaluations, productivity reviews and, perhaps, discussions about
continued employment.
This company isn't alone.
Another one of my clients has the software in place to do "screen
captures." They use it. Snapshots of the computer screens are taken throughout the day. A recent review of the screen captures revealed unethical use of the company's resources on company time. As
with the first situation, there will be consequences.
Companies are also monitoring use of e-mail. Using company resources to
broadcast uplifting stories, joke and pictures of one's travel or children is noted. Depending on the company, the consequences range from a notice to the employee's file to termination. That note is,
again, enough to influence promotion opportunities, performance evaluations, productivity reviews and salary increases.
I know that many have held the belief that their personal use of company
computers is minor or stress relieving. It's more than that now. It's a monitored activity that can stall or derail otherwise promising careers and fulfilling jobs. The simplest way to protect yourself
and your job is to completely abstain from using office computers for anything remotely personal. That, too, will get noticed.
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