If a person works through lunch EVERYDAY and stays at least 15 minutes late every night should they be allowed to spend 15 - 30 minutes each day (throughout the day) using their work computer for personal use??????
2007-02-09 12:14:51 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
You need to talk to your employer. Technically - no.
The computer is a tool your employer has purchased for work purposes. Most employers won't care if you are a good worker - but be careful what you are doing on the computer!
If you visit any questionable sites, you can still be fired.
The safest thing to do is speak with your manager about it. Chances are, they will appreciate your honestly and you don't have to wonder.
A few months ago, the federal government mandated that all employers monitor their employees computer use. So be aware, you are being monitored.
2007-02-09 12:25:37 · answer #1 · answered by CC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's 15 minutes scattered throughout the day (5 minutes here, 7 seven minutes there), I'd be okay. Doing this more than two times a day is excessive. And an employer has every right to dictate this as you are using their computer and their Internet access.
2007-02-09 13:41:08 · answer #2 · answered by je094 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that 15-30 minutes of personal time in a day is not only completely acceptable but necessary. We've all been exposed to the horrors of what too much stress can do in a work environment; people losing it and bringing a gun into work. I would argue that over 75% of people in regular everyday jobs take more than 30 minutes of personal time in a work day. Go ahead and give yourself a break!
2007-02-09 12:22:15 · answer #3 · answered by the dude abides 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on your boss, seems like your a good employee but YOU choose to work through lunch everday and stay up to 15 min late every night, so the company do not have to allow you to use the companies computer, they look at it like this business is business, If I were your boss and you work like you say I wouldn't have a problem with you using the computer at work for personal reasons, but then that's just me.
2007-02-09 12:24:04 · answer #4 · answered by yahoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that would depend upon the employer. Most employers would not allow that. This is only because of the current Internet revolution. You could use the computer to go to porn sites or get junk emails and therefore viruses that could damage the computer. You could go to chat rooms or ebay and spend hours everyday. Most employers do not allow Internet for personal use. This is because Internet is like an addiction. Once you are able to access that you would do it while on companies time as soon as the boss turns his back.
2007-02-09 12:23:33 · answer #5 · answered by Sam P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most companies have policies that do not allow employees to use computers for personal use. The reason is that if your employer provides the computer and the internet connection, they are responsible for what you do on the computer. If you do something illegal, they can be held accountable. These laws came about because of people who did not use any ethics when using company property and have ruined it for everyone else.
2007-02-09 12:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by swcasper2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ONLY if your employer approves of the situation. You need to ask them.
And I highly doubt they'd approve the "throughout the day" thing. They would want it in measurable chunks - even if they would allow personal use of their hardware - because a minute here and there can easily get away from you. And it would be difficult to show just how much time you did spend doing non-work stuff.
2007-02-09 12:21:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If by "should" you mean "is this a reasonable request?". Yes. If by "should" you mean "should my employer have an employment policy to that effect?" Probably not. I'll bet if you asked your employer why he doesn't allow employees to make personal use of compnay computers, he will tell you that monitoring usage patterns is very difiicult. A "zero use" policy is a lot easier to enforce. Remember, employment is a mutually benefical agreement. If your employer's policies make this not the case for you, you should consider working elsewhere. While you are taking pay for work performed, you should abide by the rules.
2007-02-09 12:23:20 · answer #8 · answered by SDD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately no...an employer won't view it that way...although if you work for a smaller or mid size company your manager may see it your way. It really depends on his strict their policies are relative to allowing employees to use work computers for personal use as many companies now have pretty strict policies on non personal use of work computers for anything. I would suggest doing your personal computer stuff during your lunch hour or after hours when you stay 15 minutes late - that is if your company allows you to use your work computer for personal things.
2007-02-09 12:22:30 · answer #9 · answered by chick33 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what type of personal use. Is the employee using Word to write a report for school or are the searching the web. Most companies frown against web searching due to potential viruses entering the system and crashing the system or accessing confidential information. Ask you mgmt when in doubt.
2007-02-09 12:27:40 · answer #10 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋