Survey shows Internet and e-mail misuse top reasons for sacking

Internet Business News, Sept 4, 2002

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A survey by law firm KLegal and Personnel Magazine showed that more disciplinary action is taken against employees surfing and e-maling inappropriate material than that for violence, dishonesty and health and safety issues put together.

The survey found that nearly two thirds of dismissals were for sending or surfing for illicit material.

Personal use of the Internet, sending pornographic e-mails and looking at pornographic web sites were the three most common types of misuse by employees. Of those sending pornographic e-mails nearly 40% were sacked, with 17% of those surfing for illicit material losing their jobs.

Monitoring of e-mail and Internet use is common by companies with 20% doing so, although one in 10 does not tell employees, despite the legal requirement to do so.

The survey also found that employees are 10 times more likely to be sacked for sending pornographic material than sending sensitive company information.

Hewlett Packard recently sacked two employees and suspended 150 for Internet misuse.

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