One expensive drain.(employees surf auction Web sites)(Brief Article)

IIE Solutions, February, 2001

Corporate America is losing $6.5 billion each year in productivity due to employees surfing auction Web sites at work, according to research by software company Websense Inc. More than 6 percent of employees with Internet access visit auction sites twice a week or more, spending nearly an hour per visit, says the survey.

"Auction sites can be problematic to companies because employees don't just visit for a quick diversion," said Andy Meyer, Websense vice president of marketing. He went on to say that, fortunately, there are tools that allow companies to manage employee Internet use. And Websense just happens to make some.