Internet and other news/online useage at work

[tmckinnin]

why is it at work all internet/online/news gets thrown out the window and nothing you do at work is related to online or news

Like for example if you have a blog you constantly update why cant do it at work or even news sites why cant either read newspapers or read news sites on work computers as we are living in a digital age but when it comes to office all that is thrown out the window and everything is reverted to old fashion ways why

most everything is moved to digital way yet many firms refuse staff online use a many have a daily blog to update every morning or must check social media as a means to know what is going on in the world.

The internet is here to stay but people need to know what is going on in the world plus need internet why work refuse this is beyond me

 

[paultnl]

Because it is nothing to do with what you are paid for?

 

[Newchodge]

many have a daily blog to update every morning or must check social media as a means to know what is going on in the world.

MUST??

Why should your employer pay you to do these things?

 

[tmckinnin]

but there are companies like bbc or itv or other media outlets that allow staff to use social media at work or marketing companies or even companies who use internet for customer service use

i think work should start at 10am and allow for those who get in at 9am to check or update their personal blogs then news then check their emails then news then other social media then afterwards work as people need to know what is going on in the world

 

[Scalloway]

I use the radio to keep me up to date when I'm working. They usually report the important things that I need to know, eg the Pope resigning, the Stock Exchange collapsing, World War 3 starting. Anything else can wait till I get home.

 

[jac0byterebel]

Bottom line is that if I was sitting at my desk reading a newspaper, only stopping to go on the phone and chat to my friends, I would be out of a job pretty quickly.

Whether I do the same thing through another medium is irrelevant.

 

[Newchodge]

but there are companies like bbc or itv or other media outlets that allow staff to use social media at work or marketing companies or even companies who use internet for customer service use

i think work should start at 10am and allow for those who get in at 9am to check or update their personal blogs then news then check their emails then news then other social media then afterwards work as people need to know what is going on in the world

An alternative would be for you to do this at home before leaving for work, and arriving there to start work on time.

Let me guess, is this your first job since leaving school?

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Some companies do allow access to social media, they just limit it to before 9am, after 5.30pm and at lunchtimes.

 

[SBlundell]

Some companies do allow access to social media, they just limit it to before 9am, after 5.30pm and at lunchtimes.

My bosses don't really care so long as it isn't inappropriate & is outside work time of course (hence why I'm here so early )

That said, the company does allow access to social media for the company's purpose during working hours.

I don't really get the problem?

 

[Paul_Rosser]

My bosses don't really care so long as it isn't inappropriate & is outside work time of course (hence why I'm here so early )

That said, the company does allow access to social media for the company's purpose during working hours.

I don't really get the problem?

The issue is that whilst some users don't let it effect their work, some will happily sit on facebook for 8 hours a day when they are being paid to do a job.

You also can have issues with IT security, data leakage and even legal issues if people post inappropriate content whilst using your network.

 

[SBlundell]

The issue....

Sorry Paul, wasn't very clear. Should be re-phrased as "I don't really get what problem tmckinnin has?"

I.e. Why should you be able to access social media all day, why should 'work' give you an hour for free in the morning to check random peoples' status updates etc.

I think we agree here

 

[Paul_Rosser]

I think we agree here

We do indeed.

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

most everything is moved to digital way yet many firms refuse staff online use a many have a daily blog to update every morning or must check social media as a means to know what is going on in the world.

The internet is here to stay but people need to know what is going on in the world plus need internet why work refuse this is beyond me

If you got into a Taxi and the driver started the meter and then sat there for 30 minutes checking Facebook whilst the meter was getting higher, or you took you car to a garage and received an invoice for

2 hours labour
1 hour checking social media
Total 3 hours

I am sure you wouldn't be so happy about it!

 

[woodss]

Orrr... you could get up 30 mins earlier and do it all before you start WORK.

Notice that word... WORK. Not DICKING ABOUT.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Or just use your smartphone for such things, but then if you sit at your desk playing with your phone all day I'm sure it won't be long before HR are having a word.

 

[tmckinnin]

Thing is companies should allow staff to use internet during office hrs along u can do your work.at the same time
Bosses should care less if u are online or not but fact is u should be online during office hrs as long u get your work done at the same time
I don't expect to walk in and everything is reverted back to.old days where internet doesn't exist at work but should allow social media and blogging at work as well

There are companies that use social.media for all reasons So companies should allow it

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Thing is companies should allow staff to use internet during office hrs along u can do your work.at the same time
Bosses should care less if u are online or not but fact is u should be online during office hrs as long u get your work done at the same time
I don't expect to walk in and everything is reverted back to.old days where internet doesn't exist at work but should allow social media and blogging at work as well

There are companies that use social.media for all reasons So companies should allow it

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

And thats the problem, whilst some employees won't let it get in the way of their work some will abuse this.

So employers can either monitor all internet use and then have to run reports to see if anyone is taking the pi*s, or simply block the sites.

From an admin point of view blocking is the easiest choice.

Not sure I agree about blogging at work as thats not keeping up with whats going on, it's a personal thing which should be done in your own time.

 

[tmckinnin]

Still.people need to check emails people need to know what's going on in the world as well.keeping up to.date with news and blogs

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

Still.people need to check emails people need to know what's going on in the world as well.keeping up to.date with news and blogs

No they don't, what do you think people done at work before the internet? (It wasn't that long ago!)

Wake up earlier and check before you go to work if it is so important to you.
If you feel that it is important and relevant to your work, then speak to your boss about it.
Apart from that, get on and do the job that you are being paid to do

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Still.people need to check emails people need to know what's going on in the world as well.keeping up to.date with news and blogs

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

People do no need to check personal emails at work, they would like to, they also don't need to know whats going on in the world, again they would like to.

Not allowing personal email can be as much about security as controlling what staff do, when I worked in IT security for a large company we blocked all personal email after the 3rd time someone opened a funny email from one of their friends and infected the network with a virus.

If staff could behave themselves then it wouldn't be an issue, but the vast majority can't so sadly measures have to be put in place to protect everyone and if you don't like it start your own company and let employees do whatever they like whilst you are paying them to work.

 

[tmckinnin]

I have this obcesion that I must check my news on a daily basis and keep a daily blog as well as check daily emails on a daily basis because I need to know What is going in the world

Checking news or blogging before before work is not an option for me because my laptop is dead slow and keeps auto reset and flicking So.takes a good half he to load plus wifi is bad
Bosses and companies who don't use internet are out of date/old fashioned/ dinosaurs who refuse to keep up with Times

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

 

[Paul_Rosser]

I have this obcesion that I must check my news on a daily basis and keep a daily blog as well as check daily emails on a daily basis because I need to know What is going in the world

Checking news or blogging before before work is not an option for me because my laptop is dead slow and keeps auto reset and flicking So.takes a good half he to load plus wifi is bad
Bosses and companies who don't use internet are out of date/old fashioned/ dinosaurs who refuse to keep up with Times

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

So if an employee had an obsession that they must read the times newspaper for an hour per day, they should be allowed to do this whilst they are being paid to do their job ?

Not using the internet and not allowing your staff to use the internet for personal use when they should be working are two different things and usually you find firms who don't understand the danger of the internet are the ones who let their staff have unlimited access.

Any tech savvy firm will have the proper controls in place to protect themselves and their other employees from the selfish actions of those who think it's their right to have unlimited internet access during work time.

Not so much an issue now but when I started off working in the IT industry 20+ years ago bandwidth cost money and was very limited, so to let people use the internet for personal use had a real impact on other services such as corporate email.

Maybe at an interview you should ask what the firms policy is on personal internet use and explain you intend to spend your working day updating your blog and reading the news, this will avoid any issues later on.

 

[simon field]

I have this obcesion that I must check my news on a daily basis and keep a daily blog as well as check daily emails on a daily basis because I need to know What is going in the world

Checking news or blogging before before work is not an option for me because my laptop is dead slow and keeps auto reset and flicking So.takes a good half he to load plus wifi is bad
Bosses and companies who don't use internet are out of date/old fashioned/ dinosaurs who refuse to keep up with Times

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

So rather than sort yourself out with some decent equipment, you know, standing on your own two feet - you want to use someone else's gear and you also want them to pay you for doing it?

Have you a need for a reality check?? Ever heard the word "freeloader"?

You say you "need" to check up on things - what would happen to you if you didn't then?

Is that too many questions?

 

[simon field]

I do believe I have now seen it all.

 

[tmckinnin]

Thats how things are

 

[tmckinnin]

I dont like coming into work when all i have read for news is the metro

I need my daily dose of online news because I have a blog which MUST be updated every morning accept weekends but I need to check what is going on in the world and companies should allow staff to use internet and check personal emails

I am sure a lot do like bbc, google, people who work at tech based firms and social media firms who have offices in london do it as well

this is 2013 not 1993 everything is updated and teched up with faster broadband there should be allowances for staff to read news and check emails as long they can compromise

if a firms internet policy is relaxed like you can freely go online as long you get the work done thats fine

social media and apps have changed the world and companies who refuse to adapt with the times are old fashioned dinosaurs no need for this behavior, there are people like me who need to be updated on whats going on in the world and must check emails on a daily basis

 

[simon field]

I dont like coming into work when all i have read for news is the metro

I need my daily dose of online news because I have a blog which MUST be updated every morning accept weekends but I need to check what is going on in the world and companies should allow staff to use internet and check personal emails

I am sure a lot do like bbc, google, people who work at tech based firms and social media firms who have offices in london do it as well

this is 2013 not 1993 everything is updated and teched up with faster broadband there should be allowances for staff to read news and check emails as long they can compromise

if a firms internet policy is relaxed like you can freely go online as long you get the work done thats fine

social media and apps have changed the world and companies who refuse to adapt with the times are old fashioned dinosaurs no need for this behaviour, there are people like me who need to be updated on whats going on in the world and must check emails on a daily basis

Then do it when you get home from work, that's my advice.

If that's not good enough, why not get a job at the BBC or Google?

You still haven't answered the question - what happens if you don't 'check up on your stuff'?

 

[Paul_Rosser]

I dont like coming into work when all i have read for news is the metro

I need my daily dose of online news because I have a blog which MUST be updated every morning accept weekends but I need to check what is going on in the world and companies should allow staff to use internet and check personal emails

As already mentioned allowing staff to reading their personal emails and use the internet allows for abuse of the system and firms have better things to do with their time and resources than to check who is being sensible and who is taking the pi*s.

this is 2013 not 1993 everything is updated and teched up with faster broadband there should be allowances for staff to read news and check emails as long they can compromise

In 1993 a lot more firms gave staff unlimited access to the internet, but over years of staff taking advantage of this measures had to be put in place to block certain sites during working time.

if a firms internet policy is relaxed like you can freely go online as long you get the work done thats fine

And when you run your own firm you can set whatever rules you like, until then you get paid to do a job and abide by the rules of the firm which is paying you.

social media and apps have changed the world and companies who refuse to adapt with the times are old fashioned dinosaurs no need for this behavior, there are people like me who need to be updated on whats going on in the world and must check emails on a daily basis

You do not need to be updated on whats going on in the world unless it's related to your job and outside of working hours you are free to check your emails as often as you feel is necessary for the world to keep spinning.

 

[MikeJ]

if a firms internet policy is relaxed like you can freely go online as long you get the work done thats fine

I'd love to read a badly typed, illiterate blog. What's the url?

 

[tmckinnin]

I'd love to read a badly typed, illiterate blog. What's the url?

my blog is http://www.otakuwhonewsradio.blogspot.co.uk

this is blog that must be updated on a daily basis also must check whats going on in the world its something i must do if i dont i go mad

its like there is something missing if i dont regularly check news sites and emails as its vital part of my life system i need to do it otherwise i cant function for the rest of the day i need to know what is happening in the world

 

[Paul_Rosser]

I suggest the issue may be with you and not any firms which may be crazy enough to employ you.

Unsubscribing now as either this is a wind up, or the OP has some mental issues no forum will be able to assist with.

 

[ianm10]

I have this obcesion that I must check my news on a daily basis and keep a daily blog as well as check daily emails on a daily basis because I need to know What is going in the world

Checking news or blogging before before work is not an option for me because my laptop is dead slow and keeps auto reset and flicking So.takes a good half he to load plus wifi is bad
Bosses and companies who don't use internet are out of date/old fashioned/ dinosaurs who refuse to keep up with Times

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

It is 1st March tomorrow and not 1st April? Seriously, you appear somewhat naive with your views and suspect this is your first job? The question is If this was your own company would you be happy employing people to spend several hours per day writing non work related blogs or pointless FB updates?

I work as an IT Manager for a large FTSE100 company, and see first hand the sheer amount of work time wasted from personal activities in the working day...this is not to mention the Tb's of personal files being stored on work property...but that is a whole other story..

 

[TurricanII]

my blog is http://www.otakuwhonewsradio.blogspot.co.uk

this is blog that must be updated on a daily basis also must check whats going on in the world its something i must do if i dont i go mad

its like there is something missing if i dont regularly check news sites and emails as its vital part of my life system i need to do it otherwise i cant function for the rest of the day i need to know what is happening in the world

You must be a troll or a spammer looking to drum up traffic. If not, then as UKBusinessforums is for small business owners and managers, I suggest you let your employees use the Internet in work hours if that is what you feel is right.

 

[Rich Best]

It depends on the culture of your business and what your business does. As a online marketing company many of our employees are paid to use social media all day but are trusted to use it for the correct reasons and not spend all day on their personal profiles. We do allow them to access their personal profiles to share company information with their own followers but we try and ensure they don't spend all their time using social media for their own entertainment. Social media should be fun and we try and make sure those on social media duties enjoy what they're doing but also ensure they do what is asked of them.

 

[FIZIX Agency]

The rules vary on the company.

Some have a complete block on anything that isn't work related.

Some allow use on breaks or out of your contracted hours.

Some allow a certain measure of time.

Some don't have any fixed restriction but if performance is affected you'll face consequences based on that instead.


None of these approaches are wrong and none are right.


In regards to the legal side of things, then companies will have their own rules and procedures; information security concerns will also vary from company to company; these factors as have already been highlighted, will influence the companies policies to varying degrees.



Something I think is kind of amusing; I know a guy who used to run a pretty big website and would manage it in work hours. The website was a professional passion of the guy and that profession was very relevant to his employer. So he had free reign as it was a really busy site and his employer was featured on every page of the site (through a "you feature us and you get free reign" kind of deal). It drew huge amounts of traffic to his employer and gave them really good exposure, so they were more than happy for him to let it take time in work hours

Admittedly that kind of scenario isn't going to be common.