3/4 of Companies Monitor Employee Web Browsing
Wed May 9, 2007 12:30PM EDT
See Comments (95)
Bad news, folks: Your boss is probably watching you read this blog post. A whopping 78 percent of CIOs in a recent poll confessed to installing content filtering or blocking software on their networks or otherwise watching what you do. The good news, I guess, is that you can always say it's work-related, right?
If you're worried about sweaty IT guys looking over your shoulder, the news isn't quite so bad. Most of the "monitoring" seems to be done on an ad hoc basis and as a matter of policy which blocks content or allows for monitoring. Only 14 percent of those queried actually use site filtering software and 4 percent block all web access.
While a shocking 60 percent of executives said "they want to keep their employees from wasting time at work," an even greater number cited genuine issues behind why they need monitoring software. 75 percent want to block inappropriate content (which can land an employer in legal trouble if it falls on eyes that don't want it), and 71 percent block websites to prevent viruses and malware from getting onto the network. Infected websites are possibly the most prevalent way that spyware is distributed today. It's hard to be angry over monitoring when ill-advised browsing can genuinely harm the company.
Is your boss watching where you surf? Do you even know?Â
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7 Posted by hughbpark on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse
at least if employees are surfing the net you know they can read. as long as they aren't just looking at porn.
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8 Posted by urnumber9 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:28PM EDT Report Abuse
UR a fool if U dont know what most males are doing online right now.its either watching porn or playing some stupid game. yahoo and NBC merger=AOL and Time. Greed is evil.
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9 Posted by hampot20854 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse
I understand that firms must be vigilant about efficiency or productivity and that they must protect themselves from liability as well. Having said that, the use of a computer must be viewed in context. Is the employee generally an asset, relative to peers? People have found creative ways to avoid work since employment began. Simply having the ability to monitor the behavior doesn't mean that it necessarily should be strictly enforced or that punitive measures are necessarily in order. Is spending all day in an unproductive meeting a better use of time? Not always.
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10 Posted by carterclaude on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse
Internet useage in the work place everybody will have differnt views about it. Each company usually have a policy about it. What I think about using the internet while at work is as long you do your job and not let the internet distrack you then it shouldn't cause too much of a problem of course the workplace will have rules and guidelines if they do allow you to surf online while you're working. On the other hand maybe the boss monitoring your online activives may be a good idea so that people won't abuse thier internet privileges and look on sites they can't look at work.
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11 Posted by nr_wh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse
My job, as a professional, is to complete assigned work of high quality in a timely manner. Anything else I might do, unless criminal or grossly unethical, is my business.
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12 Posted by dchick33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse
hfrank9, what are you doing wasteing time surfing the net reading this article, and posting comments, I guesss your above your own rules, or maybe you just think your better than your employees? That's the worst thing ever, your boss doing things they tell you not to do. Keep up the good work buddy, your one heck of a good boss!
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13 Posted by shirlb77 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:20PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with MP Resume. I am a highly productive employee who works 60 miles from where I live. If I didn't have a few minutes to check my email ocassionally and pay bills etc I would be taking taking days off to accomplish those things instead. I think an employee who is in-the-house rather than doing a few errands and then going to the beach is MUCH more beneficial to your business when you need that person in the office.
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14 Posted by lani_tanner on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Whats funny about all these posts is that we are all obviously posting during normal working hours and in essence doing what the article speaks of.
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15 Posted by ryeguy4444 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse
AS long as you do the job you were hired for who gives a crap?
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16 Posted by tillaftrf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse
i work at a company that blocks us from getting outside web sites. they also limit our telephone useage. we can get calls from outside the building, but we cant call out from our stations. we have to go to special phones to call out. they also randomly monitor calls from all phones.
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17 Posted by seagullsummer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse
I think computers have made the work enviroment much more fun. People love sharing e-mails with their friends. As for on-line shopping and other sites......it's probbly because the company's employees cant afford to own a computer of their own ( hmm, I wonder why ). And who goes to news stands and purchases newspapers anymore? The ink comes off the page onto your hand. I'd much rather be updated on current events on YAHOO !!!
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18 Posted by eldagr8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse
As a former I.T manager and a small business I see both sides of the coin. I do have to say that the previous post by soarango is pretty much on target, if productivity suffers then it should be addressed. I myself have installed filters that only allow certain users to surf the 'net and installed "Public internet access" workstations which are in common areas such as the Lunch room.
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19 Posted by blink_black on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse
tillaftfr, do you work in a jailhouse or a prison?
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20 Posted by slappymcnugget on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse
Oddly enough all these comments were posted during business hours, thats gotta tell you something.
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21 Posted by melissa_renee_cioffi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with the post about companies stealing from EMPLOYEES. I work my tail off everyday to pump out accurate and timely information and do I ever see a raise or any monetary gain? NO. I get a pat on the shoulder and am expected to go above and beyond the next time. I'm able to complete my work as well as the work of lazy co-workers and am STILL able to "waste time" on the internet everyday. I've asked for more responsibility but also refused to accept the added job duties without higher pay; the company chose to leave me where I am, doing the same mediocre job day in and day out so that they wouldn't have to give me a raise. Why should I break my back and stress myself out doing extra work to fill out the workday? They're the ones underutilizing their resources and I'm not willing to stretch any farther for them.
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22 Posted by raemiller05 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:26PM EDT Report Abuse
I am the network admin at my job. We have a very relaxed policy about the internet. I don't really watch traffic. If theemployees are getting their work completed and the supervisor aren't complaining then it's not a big problem. I just don't allow access porn sites, because of all the junk and spyware on them. Surfing the net is no worse than employees wasting time chatting with a co-worker, tracking back and forth to the coffee pot or taking smoke breaks every other 15 mins. Employers should treat their employees with respect and not like an enemies they have to spy on all day.
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23 Posted by charlesxharrison on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse
web browsing,shopping online at work,should be tied in the employee survey. I don't mine being monitered at all. I don't mind the firewalls. But such actions should be look at. But a boss,a company can go control freakish on this issue. Some should let loose and let employees surf becouse they uncoverde web insecurity issues such as viruses etc. IT security could learn alot from employees surfing to improve security overall.
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24 Posted by proudfox74 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:20PM EDT Report Abuse
My company uses multiple filters...I am fortunate enough to have my own laptop with which I can access local WIFI (with permission of course). My surfing and job searching is done each and every day and IT can't monitor my usage.
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25 Posted by vito6470 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:36PM EDT Report Abuse
you people need to really find something else to do with your time rather than worrying about other people and how they use their time. I feel hey as long as their there and doing their work , they should have a little breather away from work..(they usually call it breaks,back in my day). I feel that these people that make statistics are either jealous of those who can multitask or just really need a life..and a real job to begin with
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6 Posted by melindasaccount on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse
The implicit permission to be monitored on company-owned technology is probably part of the unwritten social contract we all make in order to be gainfully employed in these dire economic times. One thing that happened today does annoy me, though: our company network administrator no longer allows access to Yahoo 360, deeming it an adult/mature content site. That it may very well be - for others. I have no interest in either posting or viewing anything but the most G-rated material. So I understand the vigilance of corporate internet surveillance, but sometimes it can be unduly severe. It's the old story - a few clowns who can't delay gratification have fouled online access up for everyone else at our worksite.