Job Doc

Blocking sites?

A reader asks about blocking internet sites while at work

Ask the Job Doc. Boston.com

April 15, 2024

2 minutes to read

Q: I work as a business development representative at a company in Boston. Our office is great. I like the others in the office. My supervisor is fair and reasonable. One day last week, the CFO walked through our department and said that the company is blocking certain social media sites. We can all check them on our phones, so not sure why he thinks this is mission critical. He had a foul attitude when he walked through our department. I have heard companies blocking sites, but we have never been told that we can’t use our laptops for personal use. Is this legal? Don’t I have a right to check important sites during the work day?

A: Employers can prevent employees from visiting social media platforms, or specific websites, while an employee is using a company’s computer. Further, employers can select which sites they block. Laptops are usually company property.

Monitoring internet usage has been a practice for years. Further, your employer can also monitor voicemail systems. You should assume that any work-related communication is accessible by your employer. From Slack to Teams, your employer can monitor your activity.

Why? Browsing on social media platforms can erode employee productivity. Online shopping can derail productivity too. I think all of us, have been lured down a rabbit hole when browsing on the internet. I know I have jumped on a site to purchase a pair of jeans, and then that quick purchase turns into a 15-minute review of several pairs of jeans, and the five sweaters that are linked to the jeans. Then, there is a link to view shoes! The planned quick review of jeans turns into a 30-minute distraction from the work on my desk. This is exactly the goal of online shopping sites. Their goal is to draw you in and then lead you to view additional items, with the goal of engaging you, the consumers. If you hit the purchase button, all the better!

Your CFO likely learned about some type of concerning internet activity. Maybe it was an employee opening pornographic sites? Maybe your IT team alerted him to a high level of non-work-related tasks being completed on company time? You may never know for certain.

Employers may have explicit policies and some may not. However, excessive time on social media sites (or other sites unrelated to work) can be a reason for disciplinary action, including termination.

Research indicates that employees are wasting time at work. Salary.com found that close to 70% of employees admitted to wasting time on a daily basis. Price Waterhouse Coopers also studied internet browsing by employees. Their research indicates that employees spent about 2.5 hours per week on internet browsing or checking social media sites.

We all have reasons to remove ourselves from work-related tasks at times. Sometimes you may be confirming a doctor’s appointment, or buying a wedding gift for friend. The concern is when these events become a pattern. However, visiting pornographic sites is rarely acceptable in any workplace. Consider your CFO’s message a warning to limit your time spent on these sites.