Can i sack someone for excessive internet usage

jamespir

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.

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.

if you dont have a policy in place it cant be gross misconduct

plus you should give her a warning first and then sack her if it continues on

otherwise you run the risk of being sued for unfair dismissal

scheming_gypsy

Reverbe wrote: »

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??
.

as i'd already said...

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

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'...

scheming_gypsy

Reverbe wrote: »

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.

Usage policies will say something along the lines of

Reasonable, limited personal use is permitted for communication with family and friends, independent learning, and public services so long as it does not interfere with employee productivity, prevent any business activity, incur any cost to the company or take more than a trivial amount of your time.

thegirlintheattic

With no internet policy your likely to be done for unfair dismissal. Put in a policy then see what she does.

bluenoseam

it depends on what you mean, because i could quite easilly be productive while keeping an eye on facebook or BBC news & sport, it depends on if the person is being productive or if the internet usage is impeding their ability to do their job - even then you'd need to have a policy in place and you'd also need to PROVE it, while the "hits" are undeniable (i assume they'll be logged), it'd have to be proved they were neglecting their duties surely?

I'm with the whole ethos of "when you're at work, you work" brigade though, i get if you work in a shop and someone comes in having a chat with them, but ultimately if a customer needs serving then they get served, while you're working you're on someone elses time, they're paying you so you do the job without mucking about online - or am i slightly on the dinosaur scale of being out of touch with modern work ethic?

thegirlintheattic

A good internet policy should not be vague, you need to be very clear. For example - internet use is only allowed for personal reasons during breaks and before/after work.

Reverbe

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

With no internet policy your likely to be done for unfair dismissal. Put in a policy then see what she does.

yes but surely the employer can prove that he is being taken for a ride re his company time at cost to him of say 2x hourly rate a day if not more...?? are there no guidelines re this?

I'm with you bluenose. you conduct social life, sort out personal issues etc on your OWN time

yvonne13_2

Wow, no policy in place!!!

What websites has she been on? and was she going on there on her dinner break?

brian_723

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.

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.

If you are in a position where you are able to sack some one, yet have to ask here perhaps it is you who should be sacked for gross incompetence as a boss .

Sort your issues out with this person and stop trying to find excuses to sack someone you just do not like .

You sound like a rubbish boss with really bad communication skills .

surreysaver

At the end of the day, if your staff are able to access the internet with no restrictions or policy in place, then how can they assume they are not meant to use it?