Bosses monitor staff surfing habits

More than three quarters of UK employers now routinely check what staff get up to on the internet, a new study has revealed.

Bosses fear that staff who send out insulting emails or download pornography could leave them facing libel actions or even criminal charges.

The study, by employment research specialist Industrial Relations Services (IRS), also found that employers are increasingly worried about the amount of time staff might waste by surfing the web.

A similar survey earlier this month discovered that companies with 3000 employees or more might be losing around £10m ($15.3m) a year because of these time-wasting habits.

NetData found widespread misuse of office internet facilities, with workers idling away hours by looking for new jobs, reading online newspapers, sorting out holidays and buying gifts.

IRS now says that bosses are fighting back by conducting routine checks on workers' email messages, while also covertly monitoring the websites they visit.

A total of 74 organisations were canvassed, ranging from large companies to local authorities and charities. More than half admitted to monitoring both emails and the internet to guard against the risk of legal action, while 77 per cent regularly checked on the surfing habits of staff.

The extent to which staff are abusing office access to the internet was highlighted recently by the case of 29-year-old Lois Franxhi, who took her company, Cheshire based Focus Management, to an industrial tribunal after she was sacked for using a computer to do nearly 150 holiday searches.

Although she lost her case, law experts believe that access to the internet by staff could lead to a whole new series of test hearings.

Among the more bizarre is the suggestion in the current issue of Personnel Today which warns that employers could soon face compensation claims from workers who end up addicted to the internet.

It says employment lawyers have identified a new form of compulsive behaviour - Internet Addictive Disorder - which could be classified as a disability and therefore open to claims for recompense, much like the cases involving repetitive strain injuries.

First appeared on uk.internet.com

See also:

CIA carpets staff over secret chat room

Workers within the US's ultra-secretive spy agency, the CIA, created a clandestine chat room that was used to exchange dirty jokes and gossip until it was discovered over the weekend.  13 Nov 2000

Datacop to arrest net abuse at work

Companies may soon be able to rely on software rather than the threat of sackings to prevent employee's abusing internet access.  12 Oct 2000

Orange sees red over blue emails

Mobile phone operator Orange has dismissed dozens of staff for downloading "inappropriate" material from the internet.  01 Sep 2000

When surfing isn't safe

Your employer's email and internet policy could be dangerous for you.  12 Jul 2000

UK internet porn habits exposed

More than a third of UK web surfers are taking a peek at X-rated websites, according to a new survey which also reveals the number of women using the internet is climbing.  22 Jun 2000

More sex please, we're on the internet

Online sex addiction is growing to epidemic proportions across all levels of society, according to US psychologists.  08 May 2000

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