Does your company have an internet access policy?

[ajapale]

Does your company have an internet access policy? If so would any one care to share its contents here.

I know some companies have very explicit rules and other prefer more implicit guidlines.

ajapale

 

[j]

Here is my company's policy:

INTERNET – CODE OF ETHICS

Access to the Internet is provided to employees for research and electronic
communications for company-related purposes only. Therefore:

1. Use of the Internet without a company-related objective is not allowed during office hours. Network and online games and engaging in personal online discussions or chats are also prohibited during office hours. It is tolerated during lunch breaks, but should not be abused.

2. Use of the Internet to view, copy, save or distribute unauthorized text files, graphics files, sound files or video files is forbidden.

3. Internet activities that use excessive network resources in ways that prevent others from accessing the network are not allowed.

4. Web page publishing of any material with abusive, harassing, threatening, or objectionable language is forbidden.

Violation of any of the terms will result in the disciplinary policy being invoked up to and including dismissal in cases of gross misconduct

 

[ajapale]

Re: Here is my company's policy:

thanks j,

The following from the government website oasis comes from a surveillance viewpoint.

Employers must provide workers with a readily accessible, clear and accurate statement of policy with regard to e-mail and Internet use in the workplace. This should clearly describe the extent to which the employees can use communication facilities owned by the company for personal/private communications. For example, the policy may place a limitation on the duration and times of use.

ajapale

 

[Catbert]

Hypocritical Ireland.

Careful ajapale, this thread might be in danger of getting locked... too close to the bone.

 

[rainyday]

Re: Hypocritical Ireland.

Network and online games and engaging in personal online discussions or chats are also prohibited during office hours. It is tolerated during lunch breaks, but should not be abused.

I wonder if the company has similar restrictive policies in relation to cigarette breaks, or staff tea breaks - or is it just fear of the unknown that drives policies like these?

 

[ajapale]

Internet acceptable use policies AUPs

In fairness to j's company it is better to a restrictive and prescriptive policy than to have none at all. At least employees know where the stand exactly. I have come across companies with quite liberal policies and if I come across any I'll post them here.

From the same govenment website mentioned above:

Internet use policies

The report of the working group of Data Privacy Commissioners recommends that the any Internet use policy should contain, at the minimum, the following elements:

* The employer must set out clearly to employees the conditions under which private use of the Internet is permitted as well as specifying material that cannot be viewed or copied. These conditions and limitations must be explained to employees.
* Employees need to be informed about the systems implemented both to prevent access to certain web sites and to detect misuse. The extent of such monitoring should be specified, for instance, whether such monitoring may relate to individuals or particular sections of the company or whether the content of the web sites visited is viewed or recorded by the employer in particular circumstances. Furthermore, the policy should specify what use, if any, will be made of any data collected in relation to who visited what web sites.
* Employees should be informed about the involvement of their representatives, both in the implementation of the policy and in the investigation of alleged breaches.

and from ucd [broken link removed]

a fairly liberal (imo) policy

3. You must behave reasonably in your use of the college computer resources.
You must not undertake or facilitate any activity that could jeopardise in any way, the integrity, reliability and performance of these resources. ....<>.. Likewise deliberately wasteful use of resources and time could lead to a withdrawal of services or severe disciplinary action.

 

[piggy]

Re: Internet acceptable use policies AUPs

Am lucky enough to have worked in two companies who had no internet policies (including my present company). As we're a software house it's all about meeting your deadlines and producing quality software/fixes. Even the MD moans if we don't include him on our daily jokes list!

Internet acceptable use policies are only needed in companies where employees are not doing their work. If you have a culture of quality and pride then the job and the work itself falls into place.
I have also worked in a company where the internet was banned. It made no difference to skyving. In fact, I witnessed the laziest people I've yet come across in that company. Whether it had anything to do with no internet is an entirely separate argument and I rather think it hadn't...but equating poor work with no internet policy is very often a mistake IMO.

 

[lager]

work

but equating poor work with no internet policy is very often a mistake IMO.

Your opinion wouldn't be at all biased by any chance?

I've always found that I am far, far more productive when I don't have access to the demon internet. I still get work done when I have internet access, I just have to always stay at work late.

 

[piggy]

Re: work

Your opinion wouldn't be at all biased by any chance?

No way...

 

[ajapale]

Re: Internet acceptable use policies AUPs

Hi piggy,

thanks for your contribution, its what I was looking for. The question of Internet Acceptable Use Policy goes far beyond the issue of skiving.

For instance, do you think that it is ok to visit racist sites or pornographic sites? Is it ok to download music or streaming video at work? Is it ok to down load and run any form of freeware? Is it ok to do paid work on your own account or another third party using the internet at work. Is it ok to conduct day trading or internet gambling at work? Is it ok to misrepresent your employere using the internet?

Im just posting these as examples where an AUP might lend clarity to the situation.

ajapale

 

[piggy]

Re: Internet acceptable use policies AUPs

Hi ajapale,

Yes. Of course, you're right. It is about more than skyving.

do you think that it is ok to visit racist sites or pornographic sites?

Absolutely not. I wouldn't dream of doing so...and no one in here would. As soon as you know the first thing about the internet and how it's monitored you realise very quickly that doing so and getting caught would have serious consequences.

Is it ok to download music or streaming video at work?

Again, no. It eats up bandwidth.

Is it ok to do paid work on your own account or another third party using the internet at work

No.

Is it ok to conduct day trading or internet gambling at work? Is it ok to misrepresent your employere using the internet?

Again...no. Absolutely not.


I suppose a lot of these issues should be dealt with, but it often isn't necessary where you know and trust your staff. A small bit of monitoring will tell you pretty quickly anyway what's going on.
To be quite honest, I could probably get away with all of the above if I wanted to as there is no dedicated IT guy in here. We kind of all do our bit. There's no monitoring at all. That said I'd be pretty confident that none of the above goes on in here...but that doesn't really address the problem and questions you raised, unless you plan on coming to work where I do

 

[ajapale]

Re: Internet acceptable use policies AUPs

Thanks piggy,

I agree with you. A policy which treats its employees and adults and askes them to behave sensibley and some minimal monitoring is all that is required.

ajapale