How to not get fired:

The internet provides a company many advantages to its company. From the unlimited information, communication and research that can be done, it also is a Segway to liability and loss of productivity. As mentioned in previous posts, most companies now make employees aware of an internet usage policy to minimize misuse that can lead to incidents such as firings. These policies are typically well defined and should be highlighted during the training process so that there are no questions! However; a policy alone cannot be enough unless there are people who are enforcing it. For people to take this seriously, they need to know that there is someone above them that is rigorously watching what they are doing on the dime of their employers. I believe the policy is being enforced when an employee is let go. This shows the seriousness of the employer to the employees.

So how do you not get fired when the number of dismissals due to internet misuse is increasing? “A survey of 304 US companies by the American Management Association and the ePolicy institute found that over 25% of employers have dismissed workers for inappropriate e-mail use, while 33% have dismissed employees for wasting time on the internet while on company time.”(mohabirandjaveria.blogspot.com) 70% of the employers make these disclosures in the employee’s handbook yet employees seldom read the full handbook. These statistics are an initial warning for employees who misuse the internet in their workplace. There are numerous more statistics of why employees use their work computer and internet for personal use. But the main way to resist getting fired is to just not do it. Employees are learning that employers are more serious now than before and should tread lightly when it comes to their job!

Barak, S. (2008) Getting Fired for Using the Internet Becomes Commonplace. The Inquirer. Retrieved from http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1033919/getting-fired-internet-commonplace