Using the internet to search for vacation deals or to go on personal social media sites typically does not fall into the acceptable use category—unless you happen to be a travel agent or a social media manager. They can take a day off and do their personal projects at work and use the company’s resources. Job-related internet use may include research, training tasks, and anything that would help someone do their job. Cyberslacking, typically defined as the use of Internet and mobile technology during work hours for personal purposes, is a growing concern for organizations due to the potential in lost revenue; however, the majority of academic research in this area has focused on a limited number of cyberslacking behaviors and/or employed small, non-representative samples. Is personal Internet use at work primarily the domain of lower-status employees, or do individuals higher up the organizational hierarchy engage in this activity at equal or even greater levels? We started off by asking Alex what kind of effect personal internet use at work has had on employees and employers in the workplace. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(218977, '5fd39ac9-a0fc-4ddb-bf16-3121cd414a49', {}); When it comes to employees, this is not a new debate per se. Alex: With more and more digital technologies and algorithms being introduced in the workplace, we are seeing that a lot of work that used to require human input is or has already disappeared. Personal Internet Use at Work Should full personal use of work equipment be allowed? 116 views; Shares; Tweets; Shares; Facebook Messenger; Pins; Shares; Email We posit that higher workplace status is associated with significant incentives and greater opportunities for personal Internet use. What are the real implications of personal internet use at work? In your research, have you seen what kind of things people are reading or watching online at work? That in itself is a longstanding debate that hasn’t been resolved yet. If you ban all social media and personal e-mail use, people will still use them but they will be creative and find ways of doing it. Photos: Wilfred Iven, Andreas Palmer, Shutterstock, 228 Park Ave S. #39903New York, NY 10003 USA, The Reality of Personal Internet Use at Work. If you’re managing remote staff, they might be using the same personal computer for work and personal use. But … We know that e-mail is by far the most popular thing workers use for personal digital technology at work and we also see that there is now a spike in social media use. ► Being young, a racial minority & male positively predicts cyberslacking. An effective internet and email policy that helps employees understand what is expected of them regarding how they use their devices for work is a must for employers and employees. We are seeing a profoundly new way of engaging in certain personal activities in the workplace. Other research shows if you ban Facebook, social media, other kinds of personal activities, then you alienate your workforce and that leads to diminishing productivity. Train them to recognize when an employee might be abusing internet time or sites at work. How do you measure productivity in digitalized work spaces? currently studying the use of digital technologies at work. If you have permission to use the Internet at work, you must ensure that this never: takes place at the expense of contractual hours interferes with the Organisation’s work relates to a personal business interest involves the use of chat rooms or similar services. You want to go on record to define what employees can do from work-provided or employee-owned devices that are used by or involve your employees, your workplace, or your company. It can also be multi-screening when you’re doing some kind of work, but you’re passively watching some kind of show or listening to a podcast as well. It’s only a minority of workers who actively sabotage their work by engaging in personal activities in the workplace. ► Media habits positively predict cyberslacking variety & frequency. This is the same story for your phone, tablet, and any personal device that you connect to your network at work. As more and more employees regularly check their work e-mail and complete assignments in non-working hours, the old distinction between work and personal time is blurring. They can take a day off and do their personal projects at work and use the company’s resources. However, this opens up the possibility that workers will use the Internet for personal reasons during working hours, resulting in lost productivity. The ban on internet use at work could also potentially decrease your company’s liability in the event of a sexual harassment or other employee lawsuit, protecting company culture. It can also be multi-screening when you’re doing some kind of work, but you’re passively watching some kind of show or listening to a podcast as well. McGill University’s Alex Miltsov breaks down some of the biggest questions surrounding the growing phenomenon. It could just be a matter of figuring out if your kids are alright. Now we are seeing a task-oriented approach where you do some work intensively and then there are moments of inactivity — that is the new normal. Companies can control non-work-related use of the internet by limiting internet access to certain controlled points within the company, such as the library, or to specific "approved" websites. This, in turn, can boost employee morale. Wasted time at work is one of, if not the most important challenge companies all over the world are facing. The counter-argument can be: “that podcast actually helps me do my work.” This is where it gets complicated when it comes to policy setting and how employers should treat those types of behaviours at work because there are a lot of blurred lines. It’s only a minority of workers who actively sabotage their work by engaging in personal activities in the workplace. Alex Miltsov is a PhD candidate at the Department of Sociology at McGill University and is currently studying the use of digital technologies at work.His current research project examines the ways workers use digital media and technologies for work-related and personal purposes in the workplace. We communicate, network, watch our TV shows, do our grocery … It boils down to being in charge of your work and your work conditions. It can be beneficial for employers to let employees take a mental break because they can check their personal e-mails and social media, but then their employees don’t go anywhere else, they don’t have to go and find a creative way to circumvent certain restrictions. It could be a matter of personal resistance — some workers are dissatisfied with some kind of condition in the workplace and in order to retaliate, to take some time back, they engage in personal activities at work. For instance, paying a bill online during a lunch break or sending a note to a friend on Facebook can provide flexibility in the workplace. Three measures of cyberslacking are employed to provide a richer analysis of the phenomenon: individual behaviors, frequency of cyberslacking, and variety of cyberslacking. To conclude, where do you see this phenomenon in the next five to ten years? ► We test predictors of cyberslacking variety & frequency for nine behaviors. Many business internet usage policies have rules outlining which websites employees may visit while at work, and many company internet usage rules prohibit individuals from checking their personal e-mail accounts or logging into popular social networking sites while at work. It could be a matter of personal resistance — some workers are dissatisfied with some kind of condition in the workplace and in order to retaliate, to take some time back, they engage in personal activities at work. The tricky part is that it is difficult to really measure productivity in digital workplaces, it was much easier in industrial settings where you would have some kind of output. There is only a minority of workers who are using these technologies for more than 40 percent of their work time. Most of us would be hard pressed to deny our use of the Internet at work for non-work related purposes. Develop and maintain a culture of trust. As the years go by, it’s harder and harder to remember how we ever survived without it. It can also boost productivity in some circumstances by providing employees with a short break so they can recover their concentration. Employees are increasingly looking for workplaces where they can exercise some autonomy and flexibility. While employees slip personal online activities into their work time, their work may also be encroaching on their personal lives. Read your employer’s Internet usage and social media policy carefully. People do it for different reasons because they have different life situations. Use encryption and passwords to protect both work and personal data. Most workers understand that their major task is to do their work. There are many different reasons why someone would use a smartphone or internet-enabled device while at work. In fact, employees arguably spend about 2 hours per 8 hour work … Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. He analyzes how the digitization of the workplace affects workers’ experiences and interactions, their private and social lives, and their work-life balance. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Employee internet usage policy elements What is appropriate employee internet usage? During the work day, employees routinely check social networking sites, read current news articles, engage in online banking and shopping, watch YouTube videos, and book weekend travel. Results indicate that being younger, male, and a racial minority positively predict cyberslacking variety and frequency, as do routinized Internet use at work and higher perceived Internet utility. goonlinepapers@gmail.com. You want to go on record to define what employees can do from work-provided or employee-owned devices that are used by or involve your employees, your workplace, or your company. The Internet is essential to the operation of most businesses today, and allowing your employees to access the World Wide Web is a necessity. There should be a very realistic picture as an employer as to why, how and to what extent people use these technologies as work. Alex: We all know about Google and their idea of letting their employees take one day off to do their personal projects. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. Train your managers and supervisors about how to establish and maintain the expectations and policies of your workplace. This has been a double-edged sword for businesses. The line between personal social media use and work-related social media use is getting blurred in some cases. Your boss can monitor your personal computer if and when you connect to the work network. The trends are unsettling for HR executives nationwide: 30 to 40 percent of employee Internet activity is non-work-related, according to IDC Research. This is another area where it is difficult to distinguish between times of activity or inactivity. Register; Sign In; Go Online Papers. Some research shows when you introduce digital technologies in the workplace and when you allow employees to use them for personal reasons — productivity suffers. Most employees get on the Internet for personal reasons while they’re at work. Results are discussed as to how the present study expands on previous research, and directions for future research are indicated. With more and more digital technologies and algorithms being introduced in the workplace, we are seeing that a lot of work that used to require human input is or has already disappeared. When you’re multitasking, how can one say that you are not being productive? I would say, because of those extended times of inactivity, we can predict this in the workplace: we will see more personal internet use. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. For employers, the main concern is productivity and there is a lot of research on that starting in the early nineties: to what extent personal internet use affects productivity. Have you come across any corporate culture success stories from not restricting personal internet use at work? For employers, the main concern is productivity and there is a lot of research on that starting in the early nineties: to what extent personal internet use affects productivity. Devices and online tools encourage 24-7 … https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.03.002. Nowadays, beyond wages and compensation, employees really value flexibility and autonomy. We are seeing a profoundly new way of engaging in certain personal activities in the workplace. The counter-argument can be: “that podcast actually helps me do my work.” This is where it gets complicated when it comes to policy setting and how employers should treat those types of behaviours at work because there are a lot of blurred lines, It’s really impossible to treat all personal internet use in the workplace as one phenomenon. Now we are seeing a task-oriented approach where you do some work intensively and then there are moments of inactivity — that is the new normal. Companies that have a reasonable approach and understand that people need to take a mental break and let them use technology for personal use — those companies experience less alienation in general. The problems arise with allowed access to personal email accounts, social networking sites, auction sites, etc. Order Customized Papers. The internet is essential for doing business. It could just be a matter of figuring out if your kids are alright. With sites like YouTube, eBay, and Facebook and access to instant messaging and email tempting us at every turn, it can be difficult to resist personal Internet usage at work. Personal Internet use; Social networking; Inappropriate communications; Prohibited Internet use; Passwords; Working remotely; Phishing; Internet-use violations; About our courses. By ... You can test positive for COVID-19 after a vaccine—but that doesn’t mean the shots don’t work. The line between personal social media use and work-related social media use is getting blurred in some cases. A well-thought-out internet policy helps you enjoy the benefits of the internet while reducing the pitfalls. Some companies actually allow their employees 30 to 60 minutes of personal time on the company’s Internet daily. Being able to access the Internet and social media sites can be a nice benefit to workers. Overall, maybe 10 or 15 percent of work time is dedicated to personal internet use at work. An effective internet and email policy that helps employees understand what is expected of them regarding how they use their devices for work is a must for employers and employees. This is another area where it is difficult to distinguish between times of activity or inactivity. Define Consequences. Companies that have a reasonable approach and understand that people need to take a mental break and let them use technology for personal use — those companies experience less alienation in general. Alex: What is unique about today is the rise of digital technologies. … Some research shows when you introduce digital technologies in the workplace and when you allow employees to use them for personal reasons — productivity suffers. The survey finds that workers with Internet access at home and at work used an average of 3.7 hours per week of work time for personal Internet use. Not employees, who will take "whatever … Matthew Lasar - Apr 27, … The parameters for computer use at work (and even at home) are often confusing. The trouble here is that, in some workplaces, employees are required to use social media to promote their company or products to do something for the employer. Personal Internet use at work: Understanding cyberslacking. What is unique about today is the rise of digital technologies. Several recent studies have shown that browsing the internet actually increases employee performance. Use the Internet for your own personal use on your unpaid lunch break only. Define Consequences. And with the ubiquity of the smartphone, Internet access is always at our fingertips. Specifically, this study aims to: (i) determine the extent of personal Internet use using mobile Internet devices at the Malaysian workplace; and (ii) investigate the individual and situational factors that lead to this behaviour. Internet use at work refers to either connecting to the Internet or using e-mail. In any case, it's good business practice for companies to create, publish, and enforce policies on personal Internet use at any company interested in achieving higher levels of productivity. Our employees are advised to use our company’s internet connection for the following reasons: To complete their job duties. Cyberslacking (also referred to as cyberloafing, non-work-related computing, cyber deviance, personal use at work, Internet abuse, workplace Internet leisure browsing, and junk computing) is the use of Internet and mobile technology during work hours for personal purposes (Bock and Ho, 2009, Johnson and Indvik, 2004, Lim, 2002, Mastrangelo et al., 2006). One of the most controversial issues is personal use of technology at work, which is often referred to as cyberloafing, a voluntary act of employees using technology for non-work-related purposes during working hours . For other employees, it is just a matter of procrastination. Should employees be allowed to access the Internet for personal use if. This problem is HUGE. December 2, 2011. Internet browsing can have a positive impact on employees's emotions, allowing a measure of stress release. Home; ORDER NOW; How it works; Samples ; Blog; Personal Internet Use at Work AMAZING OFFER 35% OFF … The trouble here is that, in some workplaces, employees are required to use social media to promote their company or products to do something for the employer. Without a doubt, the Internet has revolutionized the way people play and work. If you ban social media and personal e-mail, you can actually hurt your company as an employer. Most workers understand that their major task is to do their work. Using the internet to search for vacation deals or to go on personal social media sites typically does not fall into the acceptable use category—unless you happen to be a travel agent or a social media manager. Taking personal time while at work is a manifestation of a certain kind of agency and autonomy for workers. Also, there is no scientific consensus on the link between personal internet use at work and productivity. That in itself is a longstanding debate that hasn’t been resolved yet. For example, if you’re a social media marketing agency, Twitter and Facebook are integral to your operations. In our age, there is more and more task-oriented work so whenever you have different tasks, you have periods of time when you are inactive and there is no work. Even the most loyal, hard-working employee can be tempted to occasionally do a little online shopping, play games, watch videos, check local news or weather reports, or communicate with family and friends using social media; an article in US News & World report confirms this. Because of that, employers are recognizing that this is an important dimension and will allow more personal internet use at work. Pros. There is a shared idea that “I’m here to do my work.”. The use of the internet at work offers many advantages and resources which can be beneficial to a company's operations. If you look at the literature in labour studies, the questions of agency, power, autonomy, and flexibility have been some of the key issues in the labour movement in North America and many workplaces around the world. Findings of this study provide useful insights to … Do you have a policy for personal internet use at your own business? Surfing the internet at work might turn out to be a perk that is good for productivity. How to disguise your personal web-surfing at work. It has to be negotiated in that particular workplace. ► There is significant variance in predictors of individual behaviors. One of the greatest is the temptation to use the Internet for personal reasons during the course of a workday. 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