The Internet has become an invaluable resource in the workplace; the world’s biggest reference library, social media center, and pornography outlet is now only a click away. This availability presents a significant risk factor for employer liability, costing employers thousands of hours of productivity each day. Monitoring employee internet use is one way to reduce employer liability. Whether or not you agree with the principles behind internet monitoring, many employers agree that it is a necessary evil.
Internet abusers range from upper management employees in private offices viewing hardcore pornography to the department assistant in a cubicle who spends 3 hours a day doing online shopping, making travel arrangements, and paying bills through the company Internet. Internet abuse is endemic in the workplace, and organizations are being forced to face the problem head-on or suffer the consequences.
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Among the many consequences of internet abuse are a loss of productivity and scores of litigation issues such as sexual harassment, hostile work environments, and discrimination. Monitoring Employee Internet access is one way an organization can limit its liability.
Defining Internet Abuse
Defining Internet abuse is the first challenge, and creating an organization-wide acceptable use policy (AUP) is the first step in the definition. An AUP defines what constitutes internet abuse in your organization. What was good internet behavior in one organization may be unacceptable in another, so the AUP is a highly customized policy based on the organizational mission. The organization determines what lines will be drawn regarding internet abuse.
The key to a successful AUP implementation in most organizations is similar to other policy development issues in the workplace. There must be “buy-in” from the “top-down”; in other words, the organization’s leaders must agree to the principles of the AUP and endeavor to push that policy down to the directors, managers, and supervisors within the organization. The most critical stage of AUP development depends on upper management’s “buy-in” and their willingness to demonstrate the importance of this policy to the rest of the organization.
Internet Workshops
Holding a series of Internet workshops with the employees of your organization is one way to introduce your new acceptable use policy. As an educational session, an internet workshop can address the sensitive issues surrounding internet abuse in an open forum where employees can ask questions and provide input in a non-confrontational setting.
During the Internet workshop, the organization can begin educating employees about Internet abuse and allow them to re-evaluate their Internet habits at work. Being as open as possible with your employees regarding your chosen methodology for enforcing the AUP is important.
For example, if the organization has decided to employ Internet blocking technologies, the AUP should define the specific types of websites that will be blocked; for example, many organizations block pornography, “gross depictions,” and “hate” websites. Discussing the types of websites, the organization has decided to stop and to answer questions regarding the reasons for stopping will reinforce the organizational mission and demonstrate the inappropriate websites within your organization.
Suppose your organization is going to monitor and report on employee internet access. In that case, the workshop will allow you to show the employees what the internet reports look like and discuss the circumstances in which they will be used. Taking the mystery out of what the organization is planning regarding internet monitoring and blocking will reduce employee speculation and set new expectations.
Problems with Internet Monitoring
The technical aspects of blocking website access and monitoring employee internet access are not without problems. The software for blocking websites has advanced tremendously over the past five years; however, there are still problems with blocking “all” inappropriate websites and sites you did not intend to stop. No system is perfect, and you will need assistance from your selected software/hardware vendor and your information systems department.
If possible, it is always better to meet, in person, with the vendor representatives to purchasingnternet monitoring software—Voice your concerns with the vendor and secure “after-sale” support with the vendor help desk. If you have an information systems department, ensure they are involved from the start of the project to help address any technical problems the new system could bring.
Monitoring Employee Internet Access- the People Side
Outside of the technical issues that will occur, the people side of internet monitoring can be the most problematic of all. Even with disseminating information at the Internet workshop and taking great care during your policy development, some employees will inevitably feel that Internet monitoring is unfair. Given this fact, it is of the utmost importance that the internet reports are accurate, beyond question. Even if they are correct, there are still issues to consider. The scenarios listed below show how employees could react if confronted with the accusation of internet abuse. Moreover, the excuses below may be completely accurate and a good explanation by the accused.
“It wasn’t me!”
It’s always possible that some other person was on the accused employee’s computer surfing the Internet. Once a user steps away from the computer, anything can happen. Another person sits down and starts using the computer logged in as the accused; everything they do on the Internet is recorded under somebody else’s name. One suggestion is to have the user lock their computer before leaving for an extended period; this will reduce the chances of misidentification of the internet abuser.
“They have my password.”
This situation is similar to the one mentioned above, and if I have a user’s password, I could log in as the user, and all of my internet access would be attributed to them. How they got the password is another issue entirely. However, the user makes a good point and has a potentially valid excuse for an internet report that shows abuse.
“The Internet Report is Wrong”
This can occur if the monitoring software is set up incorrectly or if there are network issues causing identification problems. This is another reason you want your information systems department involved from the start and technical support from the vendor who sold you the internet monitoring solution. Defending an internet report that shows abuse is difficult when you don’t understand how the technical aspects of internet monitoring work.
The Bottom Line
Internet reporting is not an exact science; the reports could be wrong, and the person accused of Internet abuse may be completely innocent. The key is to research the potential offender and look into their history. People who abuse the Internet usually have an account of doing so, so look into their past Internet use first and then look at the internet records on their computer. In short, do a “reality check”. Too often, we take technology for its word and fail to look on the human side for the insight that may confirm or make us question our suspicions. This practice will help reduce the number of errors that could be made during the investigation of internet abuse and help the employer maintain their credibility.
Summary
Internet abuse is a fact of life in most large organizations today. Monitoring employee internet use and employing blocking technologies can help reduce employer liability and improve employee productivity. Developing an acceptable use policy to outline good internet behavior in your organization is the first step in the process. To implement this policy successfully, the policy must be supported by upper, mid, and line-level managers. The organization should endeavor, with enthusiasm, to educate the employees of the organization about internet abuse and share the organization’s plans to monitor the use and block inappropriate websites.
Beforeurchasing a software or hardware solution for internet monitoring/blocking, a vendor should be sevited into the organization to explain the technical problems that can occur with internet monitoring and blocking technologies. During this vendor selection process, including your information systems department and other technical staff is very important. Arranging after-sale support with your vendor of choice is highly recommended.
Finally, there is the people side of the problem. Internet monitoring and blocking are only as good as the software and hardware solutions developed. There are many ways these solutions can fail, so conducting a thorough investigation before accusing an employee of internet abuse is also highly recommended.
