Internet access in the workplace: one in six surf despite a ban

Avira survey: 70 per cent of employees surveyed surf personally via office Internet connection and 15 per cent are disobeying an explicit ban by the employer in this way.

Tettnang, 23 March 2008 – Private emails to girlfriends, planning a summer holiday, online shopping: and all during working hours. “What’s wrong with that?”, 70 per cent of surveyed German employees use the Internet in the office for private purposes. 36 per cent protest: “Sure, everyone’s allowed to do it at our company!” This is the result of a recent security survey by Avira. The German IT security expert asked 2,918 visitors on its website  the “Monthly question of conscience” in February: “Cross your heart, do you surf privately at work?”

For many employees it is inconceivable that you could work without the Internet and email. From research to business correspondence, the possibilities of the Internet are increasingly replacing conventional methods of communication. There is a big temptation to use the world wide web for private purposes. According to Avira survey, for example, one in five surf at work “now and again, but only half an hour per day at most”, to send emails to friends or to research personal things. Private Internet use during office hours is certainly widespread and usually tolerated. “It is very difficult for companies to stop private surfing”, explains Tjark Auerbach, the founder and CEO of Avira. “Many work activities are now carried out via the Internet. A ban on surfing would also have a negative effect on the working atmosphere.” Only six per cent of those asked said that their employers had blocked relevant sites such as email providers. However, almost a quarter of those asked accepted the ban of the employer and did not use the Internet privately at work.

The Internet now represents the biggest distraction at work. However, according to the most recent research results of Mind Lab International, private Internet use may surprisingly increase the productivity of female employees.  According to the findings, women only need ten minutes of private Internet use during a working day to rest and restore mental performance.

“In order to solve the conflicts between employees and employers’ interests, standard regulations should be introduced,” suggests Auerbach. “In particular, it must be clarified whether private use of the web and email is generally permitted, and if so, to what extent. A company policy or an acceptable usage agreement would be useful .”