Employee Computer Use - and why more employers are turning to monitoring software
A few reasons why employers are turning to computer monitoring solutions as part of their overall risk management strategy:
Determine which employees are abusing their PC privileges:
It has become a fact of today's workplace environment that many employees consistently use their computers for non-work related activities. Whether its online shopping, checking the latest sports scores or sending instant messages to friends, these activities can add up to several hours of lost productivity each week. Using SSPro, employers can now differentiate between those that use the Internet for permissible amounts of personal use time and those that abuse such privileges.
Monitoring employees will keep them engaged:
Using software monitoring products can also help to keep employees engaged in their work related tasks.
Statistics show that a growing number of employees either suspect or know that their computer related activities are being monitored by their employers. The result is that often these employees stay more focused on their work and waste less time online.
Maintain a harassment-free work environment:
More and more employers are turning to PC monitoring software in an effort to prevent employee conduct that could place the company in legal hot water. Consider the fact that executives can be held responsible for providing a harassment-free work environment and that often such harassment involves the use of computer based resources such as email and instant message programs. Monitoring computer activity is critical to catching such activity as soon as it starts.
Prevent lawsuits arising from computer related activities:
One company recently discovered that 80% of the online bandwidth used at one of their locations was being used for the downloading of copyrighted music. As recent news stories have highlighted, the RIAA has sought large fines from such companies that allow employees to use network resources for the downloading of copyrighted music and movies. In addition, many employers are stunned when it is discovered that certain employees are downloading potentially illegal pornographic material while at work. In this day and age the ability to monitor for such activities is something companies just can't be without.
Track the dissemination of confidential company information:
With the increase in company focused web logs, "blogs", many employers are concerned with the posting of confidential or otherwise sensitive company related information by employees. Often at stake is a company's reputation as well as it's competitive advantage. Such postings by insiders can include complaints about co-workers and boses, company trade secrets and even the display of inappropriate images of themselves while wearing uniforms with visible company logos. The ability to track such activity when it occurs at the workplace gives companies the information they need to take the necessary actions.
Here are some startling facts regarding employee workplace use of computer resources:
(sources include International Data Corp, Vault.com, Businessweek, American Management Association and the PEW Internet Project Survey)
- 90.3% of employees use their work computer for personal web browsing. 37.1% state that they surf the web constantly.
- 88.4% of employees send personal related emails during the workday.
- 54.6% of employees state that receive sexually explicit or otherwise improper emails.
- Use of Internet for non-work related activities includes: reading news, travel arrangements, making purchases, job searches, special interests, check stocks, coordinate special events, instant messaging, downloading music, playing games and pornography.
- 73.5% of major US firms monitor employee phone calls, email, web surfing, or computer files.
- 50% of workers use the Internet for non-work related activities at least once a day.
- 23% of workers have searched for jobs online while at work.
- 70 percent of all porn traffic in the US occurs between 9 am and 5 pm.
- 70% of Charles Schwab & Co. customers do online trading while at work.
- Cyber-loafing accounts to 30-40% of lost worker productivity.
- Lost productivity attributable to non-work activities totals over 54 billion annually.
- 45.2% of employees surveyed used the Internet for travel arrangements.
- 40.1% of employees surveyed used the Internet for online shopping.
- 36.8% of employees surveyed used the Internet for job searches.
- 36.6% of employees surveyed used the Internet for hobbies.
- 25.7% of employees surveyed used the Internet for instant messaging.
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