Warning: Surfing At Work Can Damage Your Job

The vast majority of people who work in an office either sit in front of a computer or have easy access to one. 97% of companies use the internet and a growing number of employees also use the internet at work. While a lot of the personal use is perfectly legitimate, a significant and growing proportion is not.

There are any number of ways that employees can get themselves into trouble surfing the Web and sending emails to third parties.

This article is aimed at giving some commonsense advice on what is a fairly massive subject.

If your employer prohibits use of the internet or email systems for private purposes, don’t use them for private purposes. You could lose your job and so can’t be worth it.

If you are allowed to use your employer’s systems for private purposes at work make sure you know the limits and stick to them.

In any event:

Do not download pornography. It might sound obvious, but it does happen and the defences “I was doing research” or “it was an accident” doesn’t always sound entirely plausible.

Do not harass people by sending lots of unwanted emails to them. Bear in mind if you have sent someone these emails and have had no reply, they are probably trying to tell you something.

Do not use offensive language or make what could be libellous comments about people in emails (or any communication for that matter). A good, although not foolproof guide, is if you would not say it face to face, don’t put it in writing. People are often ruder in emails than in person. Don’t be. If you type an email to someone you are annoyed with do not send it until the following day when you are calmer. This avoids the “I wish I hadn’t sent that” sinking feeling.

Do not circulate dirty jokes and definitely not to a long list of contacts, half of whom you do not really know. If a recipient objects to what you have sent to them, do not do it again. Harassment can be accidental, unintentional and job threatening.

Finally, bear in mind that most employers have in place computer usage policies that give them the right to monitor your computer use. Those hilarious emails you’ve been sending sound much less funny when read out by your straight-faced boss in a disciplinary meeting.

Published 25/07/2007.