When it comes to e-mail activities while on the job, employees should understand that time on the job should not be spent dilly-dallying at Web sites or sending/forwarding non-business related e-mails to friends or co-workers.
Employees should also understand, (hopefully because it has been advised to them in a written e-mail policy) that when on company time there should be no assumption of privacy when it comes to their online activities. It is smart business for any business owner to keep tabs on what their employees are up to on and off-line while on company time. For productivity, liability and legal reasons alike.
In a recent study:
- 76% of American businesses monitor worker’s online activities
- 65% of employers are using software to block access to certain Web sites
- 55% retain and review e-mail messages
- 50% store and review computer files
- 26% have fired workers for misuse of the Internet
How do you use your employer’s online resources? Start with my Business E-mail Basics.
Some More Info for You:
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Most employees don’t realise that all correspondance, whether it be email or even chatting on MSN is basically work product and an employee has the right to view the contents of any email and any msn messenger or yahoo messenger logs. We had a situation recently where a difficult situation became more difficult when the MSN logs of a valued member of staff proved that the staff mamber was planning to steal leads from the company and work them himself. It led to the parting of the ways, with several long term friendships being lost as a result.
It may make some employers look like Big Brother, (the original, not the TV show!), but it’s something that employees need to be aware of and employers should be checking on a regular basis. I would agree with you Judith, that as a courtesy, employers should let employees know in advance that their emails and logs were considered to be work product and are open for inspection.
@Big Man:
Thanks for the great comments! If you think about it, employers have the right to check your telephone usage, how you spend your time at your desk or away. Whether you are being productive or more involved in office chit-chat or getting you job done is part of how employers review employees. E-mail, chats or IMs are no different. On company time is on company time and if using company resources and technology – how can employees assume that would not apply to their job performance responsibilities?
Why so many employers do not cover this topic upfront and in advance is a question that needs to be addressed!
Take care ~
Judith
P.S. Your comments have been great and on topic so that is why I have broken my usual rule of not approving comments where visitors do not use their name. Please do me a favor and on future comments, use your name so we all know who we are talking to. (See the link at the top of the page — Comment Policy). TYVM!