Employees waste 2 hours of the working day responding to personal e-mail and surfing the Internet

- Employees spend an average of 2 hours of the working day in personal Internet usage and responding to personal e-mail whilst at work.

- 66% of employers have disciplined staff over the personal use of Internet and e-mail in the workplace.

- 91% of employees admitted to sending personal e-mail at work.

A survey from a leading employment law consultancy has revealed that employees waste an average of 2 hours a day with personal Internet and e-mail usage whilst at work. The Peninsula survey also found a high number of employers to be taking action, with 66% revealing they have disciplined their staff over the problem.

Peter Done, Managing Director of Peninsula said today, ìThe Internet is again posing problems for employers as they try to stop their staff wasting the day. Employers need to get strict and make employees aware that personal e-mail can not interfere with the working day. Putting a ban on all personal Internet and e-mail usage has been a tactic used by some employers but employees are seemingly ignoring these policies and continuing to use the Internet whenever they want.î

Mr Done continues, ìEmployers need to set out stringent guidelines of what is expected when using the Internet and e-mail within the workplace. If you do choose to allow personal e-mail to be sent, set out rules and guidelines and restrict use to lunch hours and breaks. Implementing clear usage policies are a fundamental part of modern business and clear guidelines ensure that your employees know what is expected and also lets them know what action will be taken should they ignore the policy.î

ìEmployees need to understand that they are getting paid to work and shouldnít be browsing the web or sending personal e-mail. Some e-mail content can be considered very offensive and so employees shouldnít be risking possible disciplinary action on these grounds. If employers do have in place any type of restrictions on Internet and e-mail usage, employees would be risking disciplinary action and in some cases, could even risk dismissal.î

To conclude, Peter Done said, ìEmployers need to get their Internet and e-mail policies set out and make sure their employees arenít wasting away the day sending personal e-mail or surfing the net. Regular checks should be done and action taken against anyone failing to adhere to the company policy. Employees need to remember they are being paid to work, not e-mail their friends and need to understand that they are genuinely risking their job by sending personal e-mail.î