Staff wasting time on the net?
Do staff really waste time surfing the net? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. Recent studies reveal that over 70% of employees visit personal websites daily during work hours, with younger staff showing even higher rates of personal internet use. This remains a real and frustrating issue for many organisations, particularly as remote and hybrid work arrangements have made monitoring more challenging.
Here are our top five ways to regulate internet usage:
Policy
This is the easiest and least robust way of trying to regulate staff time wastage. You simply create an internet usage policy that outlines what constitutes acceptable use of the internet. Your policy should define when staff are welcome to use the internet for personal reasons, such as during breaks or lunch hours. Modern policies should also address mobile device usage and personal hotspot connections, as these have become common workarounds. Consider involving staff in policy development to ensure buy-in and realistic expectations.
Content Filtering
Many of our clients use advanced content filtering solutions that can block access to social media platforms, streaming services, gaming sites, and other non-work-related content. Modern filtering systems use AI and machine learning to identify new sites and categories automatically, addressing the issue of constantly evolving social platforms. However, tech-savvy staff may still find ways around these restrictions using VPNs, mobile data, or proxy services.
Monitor and Report
The next step up is implementing comprehensive internet monitoring with detailed reporting. Modern monitoring solutions can track which users are accessing what sites, how much bandwidth they’re consuming, and even provide productivity scoring. We recently helped a client who couldn’t understand why their internet performance was so poor. Our monitoring revealed that several staff members were streaming video content and downloading large personal files during work hours, consuming most of their available bandwidth.
Transparency and Accountability
Several of our larger clients publish monthly reports showing internet usage patterns (anonymised for smaller teams). This transparency approach can dramatically reduce inappropriate usage. For smaller organisations, we recommend sending individual usage reports to staff members monthly. Research shows that simply knowing their activity is being monitored significantly changes user behaviour. This approach maintains trust while encouraging self-regulation.
Selective Access Control
For serious cases, our team can implement role-based internet access controls. This might mean restricting certain users to work-related sites only, while allowing full access for roles that require broader internet use. Modern solutions can also implement time-based controls, allowing personal browsing during breaks but restricting it during core work hours. Complete internet disabling is rarely necessary with today’s granular control options.
Whichever approach you choose, knowledge is key. Understanding not just what your staff are doing online, but why they’re doing it, helps you address underlying issues like engagement, workload management, or workplace satisfaction.
If you’re concerned about internet usage in your organisation and want to explore monitoring and control options, contact our team to discuss solutions that balance productivity with maintaining a positive workplace culture.
Chris Drowley
General Manager, Resolve Technology
Outside the office, Chris runs a highly organised empire of model trains — where the schedules are always on time, unlike the real thing.
