Employee Internet Abuse
June 15, 2010
Employees who abuse Internet privileges have become a major concern among today’s corporations. According to a survey of human resource directors, approximately 70% of companies provide Internet access to more than half of their employees and recent statistics show that employee Internet abuse is on the rise. In a survey of 1439 workers by Vault.com, an online analyst firm, 37% admitted to surfing constantly at work, 32% surfed a few times a day, and 21 % surfed a few times a week (Adschiew, 2008).
In a survey of 224 corporations by Websense, Inc., an electronic monitoring firm, 64% of the companies have disciplined, and more than 30% have terminated, employees for inappropriate use of the Internet (Websense, 2008). Specifically, accessing pornography (42%), online chatting (13%), gaming (12%), sports (8%), investing (7%), and shopping at work (7%) were the leading causes for disciplinary action or termination. In an online usage report conducted in 2008 by eMarketer.com, 73 % of U.S. active adult users accessed the Web at least once from work, 41% access the Web a majority of the time at work, and 15% go online exclusively at work (McLaughlin, 2008).
The issue has become critical as organizations attempt to minimize productivity losses that result from such employee Internet abuse, which can represent billions in lost revenue (Stewart, 2008). Vault.com estimates surfing costs $54 billion annually in lost productivity (Adschiew, 2008). For instance, in the summer 2008, Victoria’s Secret posted a forty-four minute, mid-work day webcast. The broadcast had an estimated audience of four million viewers, costing Corporate America as much as $240 million.
We realize that no matter how vigilant you are you don’t always know what you employees are doing. Thanks to MemorySpy.com and its release of Memory Spy PC monitoring software you will always be informed about your employees’ internet activity. Protect your business today!