Although business technology is designed to make life easier in the workplace it can be abused, and a staff policy is the best way to avoid this. Having a set staff policy can help avoid disciplinary proceedings against workers who spend work hours surfing the net or instant messaging friends.

Internet and Email Abuse

Internet abuse at work has become one of the biggest reasons for disciplinary cases in the workplace. In fact recent reports state that these disciplinary cases are greater in number than all other disciplinary reasons put together. Whiling away the office hours away surfing the net and sending non work related emails has become a serious problem in offices around the UK.

So much so that staff policies on this type of technology abuse are given to staff to be read and signed on the first day of employment.

 

Types of Technology Abuse

There are a number of ways that staff can abuse technology in the workplace with many cases leading to disciplinary hearings and sometimes dismissal. Common types of abuse can include:

 

• Non work related internet and email use.
• Personal telephone calls during work.
• Personal use of technology such as photocopiers.
• Non work related use of computer technology such as copying CDs.
• Instant messaging to friends during work hours.