Internet Monitoring at Work: Your Thoughts...

[SuPhistiKatEd]

Hi Guys,

I'm just revising our IT plan at work. One of the areas surrounds internet/desktop monitoring. Just wanted to know what your company does and what your feelings are on being monitored 24/7 at work. Are you for or against the idea? Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[eblend]

Much against this. Its stupid. I work for a government of alberta agency, and we have fun access to the net and no monitoring. I love it. As long as you get your work done, why restrict people from checking a few things on the net every once in the while

[badatusrnames]

I wouldn't like it, but I can understand that a company has a right to monitor how you use their internet on their time.

But I wouldn't agree with a company blocking certain sites (such as youtube), as it wouldn't let an employee view those sites on their own time such as at lunch.

Also, think of the effect it would have on employee morale. It would make me feel like my employer doesn't trust me as a mature adult to not abuse my internet privileges. Not to mention the feeling of having big brother always looking over your shoulder would contribute to a negative working environment.

Where I work, management has no problem with us taking 10-15 minute "mental breaks" and surfing over to youtube, news sites, etc. I might even show them what I'm checking out if I think they'll be interested. It's things like that that make for a happier, more productive work force.

[ntv1980]

There are professions where they have to use the internet to lookup info. However, it's not that simple to say "allow" or "deny" the internet. Generally, it's allowed, and some limits connection to some special internet sites (facebook,youtube...).

If your company is project oriented, it's fine to have fully open internet connection, as long as the projects meet the milestones/expectations.

You could set up a pool of internet-accessible computers besides the regular non-internet computers so that the employees may use it when they want/need to.

Again, it's all about the work ethics. If an employee has good work ethics, he/she'll always have good work ethics, even if you allow fully opened internet. On the other hand, the non-ethical ones can always find something somehow to slack off.

Monitoring is a No-No. There is no reason to justify that. If you do that, good people will eventually find somewhere else to work.

[Antonito]

It was funny when they went through the data at my work and noticed that some people were spending hours a day on Facebook (not to mention the other sites, they just used that as an example). Yeah, going by the honor system may work in small offices where you can monitor peoples production efficiently, but in any large office, it's a recipe for severe abuse

[88CRX]

Originally posted by ntv1980

Again, it's all about the work ethics. If an employee has good work ethics, he/she'll always have good work ethics, even if you allow fully opened internet. On the other hand, the non-ethical ones can always find something somehow to slack off.

Monitoring is a No-No. There is no reason to justify that. If you do that, good people will eventually find somewhere else to work.

Pretty much sums it up right there..... slackers will always find a way to slack.

Our office can monitor it if they like, however it only becomes an issue with troubled employees. It gives the company a legit excuse to fire the real slackers that don't do shit all.

[Bimmer88]

At my work im the IT guy, and i have implemented Naomi which is a internet filter because I have caught first hand of some employee's visitng inappropriate sites at work. Like comeon this is work, you have to get your job done. You don't get paid to look at porn all day long. Oh btw this program has heuristic analysis capable of recognizing new material automatically.

Also, in terms of monitoring and making life A LOT easier we use Netsupport, it's a great program and very easy to implement. Try searching up on Netsupport. It's widely used by schools but there's a business one.

[Xtrema]

I would enable monitoring and will let employee knows the usage will be monitored and recorded.

It's basic procedure and you HAVE to do it. The more staff you have, the more need there is for one. Most HR will demand it.

And those records will only be used for investigation when needed. For example, when an harassment complain has been filed.

On the flip side instead of monitoring, you just ban. Remove all non work related website access. No access, no productivity issue, no legal issues.

[Ben]

We have all sorts of departments throughout the company on different V-LANS. This way you can control through your firewall what sites are accessible and what aren't. You can give the Execs and Project Managers full reign on whatever they want to browse, whilst keeping the peons and people who do not require access to sites such as facebook and youtube off them. Our firewall does a full and summarized report every night and you can break it down to the top 10 bandwitch hogs, top 10 users attempting to access filtered sites, Surf Time, the list goes on.

It's great because with SOOOOOO many staff that might have slow time throughout the day, they can rack up a massive amount of bandwidth. Went from a few hundred GB a day to around 60gb with this implementation, saved us several T1's.

[rmk]

I think some people do abuse it, and in that case they need to be monitored and or cut off. It should only be implemented when something it said though from a co-worker or manager.

Even though where I work, they slow down Facebook and do filter alot of things, I couldn't get through the day without browsing beyond or other non-mature sites....

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by Ben
You can give the Execs and Project Managers full reign on whatever they want to browse, whilst keeping the peons and people who do not require access to sites such as facebook and youtube off them.

Your project managers require access to Facebook?

[Kloubek]

I think an internet monitor would be understandable, but expect moral to decrease and people to protest. I agree with the user who said: "As long as you get your work done..."

If such a system is implemented, it should be utilized on a per-case basis. Ie: Don't go through all the records seeing anyone who might have spent time on facebook, etc. Use it as a tool to single out specific users if they are not performing up to par in their job, etc. Make it clear to the users that this information is only provided on written request from their supervisor, or something like that. Hopefully, that will keep the other employees from thinking big brother is constantly watching their every move.

[Ben]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat


Your project managers require access to Facebook?

Company is comprised of young people, even the Execs arn't old farts by comparison.

Company has a Facebook App.

Company Posts YouTube Vids

Company likes to have fun while at work.

[thrasher22]

My (now former) job had semi strict filters, I didn't enjoy it, but I really didn't blame them. I'd be surpised if a company didn't have one. The bandwidth and computers are company resources, why would they want you to waste company resources to download p0rn at work?

[WiltonKillz]

Thats stupid as long as your work has been finished or your working on it,
and respecting the net i think you should be allowed unfiltered =D

[Alterac]

If your at work, you are under their rules. Pretty simple.

We record every little piece of data that leaves our network, and we keep it for 10years.

We also have a internet filter in place, saves us tons of money.

It comes down to $$ in the end. Bandwidth is expensive, and employee's time is expensive.

[rmk]

The best place for surfing was the City of Calgary. I did a month long summer temp assignment with them and anything was game. Nothing was censored at all. I am still surprised nothing was ever said.....

[adamc]

The corporation I work for filters certain sites, like youtube, facebook, all the big mainstream time wasters.


But somebody in another company has setup a wireless network somewhere in the building, which allows me to disconnect my laptop from the lan, and browse that stuff when I need my little mental breaks throughout the day.


Best of both worlds.

[TVG]

At my last job there was no filter. I did spend half my days surfing the internet, but I also got all my work done. I wouldn't have blamed them if they gave me more work. If they blocked my internet access I would have been forced to sit at my desk and do nothing. Nothing worse for moral than that!

[Toma]

Depends on the job. If you have little else to do but answer the phone, sure surf away between calls to pass the time..... the very cute girl working the customs cashier desk at the Coutes border is an example.... they shoulda given her the internet to pass the time....

If you have a JOB, where things need getting done, and there is always something to do.... ban everything but what is 100% required for the job.