work internet access issue

prowla

diable wrote: »

Have they given you their internet usage policy declaration to read and to sign?

I would ask for it - some companies are OK with surfing, so long as you get your job done.

T_T_2

fluffnutter wrote: »

Yup. Until they do so, they can't complain about anything...

That's not strictly true, and a dangerous assumption to make. An internet usage policy is supplementary to an employment contract, much like a mobile phone usage policy, company policy for company cars etc. Their aim to is to leave no doubt about what can and cannot be done with company equipment but a lack of such a document does not mean that an employee is free to do as they please.

Most employment contracts will reference an employee handbook or a document that details disciplinary procedure and what constitutes misconduct. Even if the company has no internet usage policy they may still have a case against you if you are found to be using company equipment for purposes other than that which relates to your role. You could still face disciplinary action.

Hammyman

wrightk wrote: »

thanks for that. perhaps i will ask

i didnt think it was that easy for them seeing as its my personal laptop im just using their access key

It is extremely easy for them. All they have to do is enable logging on the router. Some can even specify logging access to specific websites.

rexmedorum

T_T wrote: »

That's not strictly true, and a dangerous assumption to make. An internet usage policy is supplementary to an employment contract, much like a mobile phone usage policy, company policy for company cars etc. Their aim to is to leave no doubt about what can and cannot be done with company equipment but a lack of such a document does not mean that an employee is free to do as they please.

Most employment contracts will reference an employee handbook or a document that details disciplinary procedure and what constitutes misconduct. Even if the company has no internet usage policy they may still have a case against you if you are found to be using company equipment for purposes other than that which relates to your role. You could still face disciplinary action.

But surely you would go in for unfair dismissel, if you were dismissed just for using the internet connection to check private email out of your working hours and without a very clear policy against this?

I mean that seems very unresonable.

T_T_2

rexmedorum wrote: »

But surely you would go in for unfair dismissel, if you were dismissed just for using the internet connection to check private email out of your working hours and without a very clear policy against this?

I mean that seems very unresonable.

You could file a case for unfair dismissal for anything you like, but you won't necessarily win.

As I said before, most major companies and organisations will have an internet usage policy in place but they are not obliged to. There are lots of ways in which using the companies internet outside of your contracted hours could lead to disciplinary action being taken against you, here is an example.

Company A has no written internet usage policy. Employee X uses their company laptop to browse the internet on a company computer on the company network outside of their contracted hours. They visit a website that they would have no reason to visit as part of their role and subsequently a virus infects their computer and then the rest of the network and this causes emails to be sent from company email accounts to all of the contacts trying to sell them viagra. As there is no internet usage policy they are safe right?

Wrong, Company A disciplines Employee X as they have breached the element of their employee handbook that covers employees actions which result in the name of the company falling into disrepute.

An extreme example I know, but extreme is not impossible and there are many ways to skin a cat as they say.

paddyrg

Ask. Ask, if out-of-hours, when it will not affect anyone else's work, you can do this. They will either say yes or no, but you will no longher be guessing ;-)

Now if you were to watch risqu! films, or even stream video from the BBC, it may be different, but ASK FIRST and you will know for sure :-D

rexmedorum

T_T wrote: »

You could file a case for unfair dismissal for anything you like, but you won't necessarily win.

As I said before, most major companies and organisations will have an internet usage policy in place but they are not obliged to. There are lots of ways in which using the companies internet outside of your contracted hours could lead to disciplinary action being taken against you, here is an example.

Company A has no written internet usage policy. Employee X uses their company laptop to browse the internet on a company computer on the company network outside of their contracted hours. They visit a website that they would have no reason to visit as part of their role and subsequently a virus infects their computer and then the rest of the network and this causes emails to be sent from company email accounts to all of the contacts trying to sell them viagra. As there is no internet usage policy they are safe right?

Wrong, Company A disciplines Employee X as they have breached the element of their employee handbook that covers employees actions which result in the name of the company falling into disrepute.

An extreme example I know, but extreme is not impossible and there are many ways to skin a cat as they say.

Seriously I can't see anybody being dismissed for checking their email, we were only talking about email mind not doggy websites (which I wouldn't recommend)

DCFC79

If any email and facebook activity is done when your not working then yes thats perfectly but get it confirmed

Richie-from-the-Boro

The O/P gave the companies terms of reference when they gave s/he the dongle.

"" my work have given me the internet key so I can use the internet on my laptop when I'm not technically on shift but am there eg (sleep in) for research on paperwork etc ""

Contract of Employment / Procedures Manual / Policy & Practice / Employee Handbook apart the explicit and ' implied terms ' of its use were for research on paperwork.

Many people have said ask, and for very good reasons.

If I was HR / personnel and the company I worked for had been trying to get rid of you for years, but could not find a ' tribunal safe ' reason. I'd give you an internet key so you can use the internet on your laptop when I'm not technically on shift but am there eg (sleep in) for research on paperwork etc "" then sit back for a month and save the company £60k in tribunal awards.

You see .. .. I would know you would spend 8 hours of the time I'm paying you for per shift browsing and whatever on the chat lines / facebook / these forum's .. .. and I'd have all the evidence I need.

Ask .. .. you are on pay even when you are not ' on the floor '

rexmedorum

As I mentioned before if you can't/ don't wnat to ask & you have reson to beleive they may be very restrictive and likely to shout at you for using their connection, you can always get yourself some mobile broadband.