The Upside!
Throughout the last few weeks I have read article after
article about how personal internet use at the workplace is a negative thing.
In keeping order with nature, every negative must be counteracted with a
positive. So I began to research how internet “misuse” could actual be an
appropriate and positive activity at work.
As American’s it seems our workday never ends. The internet
has only increased this feeling, in that we can now access our office and our
work from home. So now employers may expect their employees to work in the
evenings and even on the weekends. They can be expected to stay in more
constant contact with clients through email and through their smart phones. Now,
if the employer allows employees to access their emails, set personal
appointments, pay bills, and ect… This will make them less resentful of their
work cutting into their personal time. Those things they would have done on
their own time are done and they can now be more productive and put more time
into work.
When employees feel as if they are always working and don’t
ever get a break it can be draining on them and make them less productive. Allowing
employees to use the internet at work gives them the ability to take small
breaks here and there, which can refresh them. That in turn can make them think
more clearly and become more productive.
Both of these positives clearly show that a good balance
between work and personal internet access can be beneficial for a business.
Employers are still struggling with how to manage these two as they can be very
difficult to monitor without cutting off to much personal access. Employers
need to be aware of the positives as well as the negatives and try to set
policies that will allow the most beneficial results for their firm.
