Steps To Create A Solid Internet Usage Policy

If you work in an office with an Internet connection and you are allowed to use such connection anytime then you are one lucky person because many offices have established an Internet usage policy which restricts internet use to specific personnel.

Most employers track the internet usage of their employees primarily because most employees tend to abuse their internet usage privileges resulting to misuse of company property and even decreased productivity. Improper use of the Internet by the employees without following a specific policy guideline can be detrimental to the growth and profits of a company.

Imagine your staff all engrossed in their individual computers, surfing the World Wide Web eight hours a day, five days a week for their personal businesses. So how much work will they be able to accomplish if they go to the office everyday with just the thought of using the internet to answer their personal emails or maybe even surf their favorite sites?

Each office should keep track of the internet usage of their employees if only to check how extensive the internet is being used for personal gains. Of course, this would not be possible without the establishment of proper guidelines to internet usage policy.

Consider the following when creating your own guidelines for internet policy usage:

  1. Specify certain hours for internet use among office employees. This will limit the time they will spend just surfing the internet for personal gains and will also maximize the time they will spend for actual office-related internet use.
  2. If possible, restrict the use of the internet to some office personnel who must really have access to the internet. Perhaps, someone can be designated to check the company email al specific hours of the day.
  3. For this to work, closely coordinate with your IT Department and check if there is a way to bar internet connection in designated computers. There is a system where only those allowed to use the internet will have a connection at certain times.
  4. Document the internet usage policy and if possible, make it part of the employees’ handbook so they will have their own copy. You can also post a poster-size policy in strategic corners of the building.
  5. Provide penalties for violations for violations of the internet usage policy so that the employees will know you mean business in setting up the policy. Or else, the policy will just become a crocodile without fangs, always ready to pounce but not bite.

It is easy to check the actual internet usage of the employees. You can do this by keeping track of their usage history. By doing this, you can monitor the sites that the employees have visited for the day or the week and then cross check them with the sites they are supposed to be visiting for business only.

When an employee blatantly violates the internet usage policy then do not hesitate to issue a warning so that everyone is forewarned that the company means business.

Internet Usage