"Most companies assume their employees use some of their break time on the Internet for shopping, checking social networks, and other general browsing, but when it starts adding up, workers need to be aware of company policies and any potential consequences," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "With more companies limiting or restricting online activity, e-shopping season is as good a time as any to be mindful of our Internet usage at work."
General Internet Usage
Two-thirds (65 percent) of workers spend at least some time conducting non-work related Web searches in a typical workday; 22 percent find themselves conducting non-work related Web searches at least five times a day.
•22 percent of employers have fired someone for using the Internet for non-work related activity – on par with 2010.
•7 percent of human resource managers surveyed have fired an employee for holiday shopping.
•54 percent of employers block employees from accessing certain websites – up from 50 percent in 2010.
Social Media Usage
More than half (56 percent) of workers on social networks check their profiles during their typical work-days – up from 49 percent in 2010. Of this group, around one in seven (15 percent) spends at least one hour a day browsing.
Workers need to be especially careful of what they post about their company publicly.
•One-third (32 percent) of employers prohibit employees from communicating about the company on social media.
•25 percent of employers report adopting stricter policies during the last year in regard to employees communicating about company on social media.
Personal Email Usage
Sixty-one percent of workers send non-work related emails during their typical workday – up slightly from 59 percent in 2010. Nineteen percent send more than five personal emails a day.
•28 percent of employers monitor emails – on par with 2010.
•8 percent of employers report having fired someone for non-work related emails.
