by E.A. Paul

Created on: May 04, 2010   Last Updated: May 05, 2010

Employers should monitor employees' Internet use, but with some restrictions. First and foremost, the employee has the right to know that they are being monitored. The fact that the employee is surfing the net on company time shouldn't give the employer the right to barge in on some private information being discussed. This is just like "Big Brother" breaking into your home at any given moment. To solve this dilemma, the employer should make it perfectly understood to the employee that they will be monitored. In fact, the employer should have the employee sign a statement that says they will be monitored on company time, but not on break time or lunch time. This relieves the employer of any liability due to the monitoring. It also makes the employee responsible for their Internet use. I don't believe that the employer should sneak around and monitor whoever they want without the employee's knowledge. The employer has the right to know if an employee's Internet use is interfering with company productivity. On the flip side, the employee has the right to know that they are being monitored.

The Internet is a big part of our lives. It's everywhere. And now, more than ever, it's also a part of the workplace; especially in government facilities. It's only natural that an employee will use the Internet. Unfortunately, utilizing the Internet at work is much different than surfing the net at home. Some employees might feel they are entitled to use the Internet at work. They may not think there is anything wrong with checking their emails at the computer on their desk. The employer may not see it the same way. They think in terms of production when they pay their employees for working, and they only see non-production when their employees are spending time on the Internet.

The employer has the right to know how much time an employee is in the non-productive mode when they are spending time on the net and not working. Think in terms if you were the employer. You are paying someone to do a specific job, and you find out that they are spending half their day on the Internet. I don't think you would be very pleased with this arrangement. And, of course, your employer would feel the same way if you were spending time on the net. So, the only way an employer can find out how much time you or other employees are spending on the Internet is to monitor your Internet activities. Therefore, in the big scheme of things, your employer should monitor your Internet activities, but with some restrictions in place as mentioned above.

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