50 employees fucking off

I think it's a bit extreme. But if you're going to do it,
there needs to be full disclosure and a clear set of
guidelines re what is un/acceptable online use.

My policy would be that as long as what was required to be done for the day was accomplished I wouldn't have a problem with employees using the net on short breaks but I would let them know they were subject to monitoring to preserve a "blame trail" lest anyone do something illegal or harrassing using my computers.

Monitoring without them knowing was one of the best choices i ever made. You really just can't fucking trust anyone to do work non-stop if you leave them alone for long periods of time. Legal problems with not telling them ? Fuck that shit ... you can always just find something else to fire them for anyway. What they don't know ...

:2 cents:

P.S. I Definitely recommend this for anyone who allows their employees to use chat programs during work.

Phone taps are nice and cheap as well. Depending on your phone setup i guess =)

Let me clarify on that statement, as it is rather deceptive - it is probable that 'criminal' actions captured by an employer might be treated completely different.


A friend of mine last year was fired for statements made through personal email (hotmail) that was captured on his employers computer equipment, the company did not have any policy on computer monitoring, he was never informed that he might be monitored, nor signed anything to that effect.
However when he filed for unemployment all of the emails captured were presented, and accepted as evidense against him and he was turned down for unemployment.

A lawyer told us that a company doesn't need a written policy, or even a verbal policy to monitor employee's if they own the equipment, ISP accounts , connections etc, and told us most people should treat working at computers at work, just like other aspects of their life - don't say anything private you wouldn't want anyone to know.

Not cool, but sometimes you need to ! :thumbsup

You have to assume your employee's are going to use the internet to fuck off. It's like putting a tv with 1000 channels in the middle of someones desk and saying dont watch it.