Can i sack someone for excessive internet usage

Alecz

One of my employees has been using the internet excessively . There are 200 - 300 non work related hits recorded on a daily basis.

She has been working with us for 5 years . We think now that this may have been going on for some time but only came to light now by chance.

We have no internet policies at the workplace but i want to sack her for gross miscodnuct rather than give her a warning.

juggler7

is she churning out the work as expected? if yes then it might be difficult

ohreally

With no policy, how is the employee supposed to understand what is acceptable behaviour?

Alecz wrote: »

We have no internet policies at the workplace but i want to sack her for gross miscodnuct rather than give her a warning.

Is this an excuse to dismiss?

AndysDad

You obviously have other issues with her,as I can't believe that's Gross misconduct.She would probably take you to court for unfair dismissal and cost you more than you bargained for.

scheming_gypsy

Alecz wrote: »

One of my employees has been using the internet excessively . There are 200 - 300 non work related hits recorded on a daily basis.

.

what kind of 'hits'? just because something comes up as a hit doesn't mean she's been to the webpage. If a page has advertising on that's linked to another web site then it'll come back as a 'hit'...

Sambucus_Nigra

I'd suggest getting some IT policies in the first instance.

Reverbe

Andy whats unfair about it?? If you are at work then you work and work only. Piddling about on the interweb is not working esp if these sites are not work related.

I have a friend who was ditched because a US friend of hers used the word for butt beginning with an a(mse apparently blocks out this name for a donkey) in an email to her work inbox... Tell me thats fair. It's a word used on a day to day basis in the US, not considered obscene and also not illicited in any way by my friend..

ajaney

If you sack her & there is no internet usage policy in your emplyment terms & conditions, you are at high risk of being taken to a tribunal. The likelihood is she will win.

scheming_gypsy

Reverbe wrote: »

Andy whats unfair about it?? If you are at work then you work and work only.

.

i think they stopped that line of thought when they stopped sending children down mines.

most companies allow you to use the internet for personal reasons as long as it's not excessive and doesn't interfere with your work.

Jarndyce

Yes you can dismiss her, but you will run the risk of a Tribunal at which you might lose, so you should put a simple policy in place, get her to sign that she has understood it, then monitor usage thereafter. Of course you need to apply the policy consistently across all staff.

You could of course take any action you wish now short of dismissal, so a warning or similar might be appropriate.

However it does sound that you have other issues with this employee - I would suggest you deal with them properly rather than trying to cut corners and have that coming back to bite you later.

Reverbe

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i think they stopped that line of thought when they stopped sending children down mines.

most companies allow you to use the internet for personal reasons as long as it's not excessive and doesn't interfere with your work.

Oh come off it. You think 200-300 hits per DAY is reasonable? :eek::eek::eek:The odd net use now n then but that is excessive and surely must lead to at least a couple of hours employer is paying for??

You are being paid to WORK at the end of the day not play on the net at someone elses expenseand if she isnt willing to work there are plenty who will.

PS Never worked at any company where they let you use the net for personal reasons and TBH a lot of companies block usage and most sites.. Perhaps employer here should have a net usage policy/measures in place.