Workplace of Choice

Cyber Monday is to Black Friday, as online buying is to in-store shopping.  Retailers expect that Cyber Monday will be second only to Black Friday in sales and will be offering deals and promotions for online purchases, many of which will last throughout the holiday buying season.  According to a 2008 study, 63% of workers were expected to shop online with 40% of employees between the ages of 18-24 spending up to 5 hours of working time shopping online throughout the holiday season.  The same study predicts that online shopping can cost up to $3000 per employee in loss of productivity due to online shopping.   So what’s an employer to do?

Many companies have an Internet Usage policy in place that restricts employees’ Internet use to work related purposes only.  In today’s online shopping society however, is it possible to expect that employees are only using the Internet to complete their work and not for personal reasons, especially during the holiday buying season?  By having such a restrictive policy, are you setting your employees up to break that policy?  And, if so, are you ready to impart the appropriate consequences?  Keep in mind that any policy should be enforced consistently so that what you do for one employee should be done for another. 

A more relaxed Internet policy may be more effective in curbing abuse of the policy and will create good-will among employees and increased employee productivity.  By allowing employees some limited Internet use for personal reasons, you acknowledge that employees have the maturity and ability to make good decisions with respect to getting their work completed.  Employees will feel more valued and employee morale will be positively affected.  And, as we know, happy employees are productive employees.  Another benefit to limited personal Internet usage is that employees may be less likely to take days off in order to get their shopping done.  Should the work not be completed effectively or timely, then the problem should be dealt with as a performance issue where Internet usage then plays a role in the review of performance as a potential time draw.  As you look to guide employees this holiday season, think about what makes sense in your organization and what leeway you can give to your employees in the spirit of the season while being realistic about the work and personal demands of employees.