Web filtering...does your office use it?

[fjpod]

Feel free to chime in whether you are an owner or employee, but does your office have unrestricted use of the internet?

Sadly. we have had to institute restrictions of all sites except those that are business related. Between office weddings, fantasy football, downloading viruses, shopping, instant messaging...the distractions are endless.

We put a laptop in the employee break room with unrestricted internet.

Years ago, the problem was staff using the office phone for personal reasons. Then the cell phone and text messaging came along, and it's a shame that some folks carry on text conversations ALL DAY LONG. We now prohibit cell phones at work stations. Anyone caught with one out gets sent home for the day without pay. This has become written office policy. Staff is allowed to receive emergency calls on the office phone, of course.

[bob_f_aboc]

My office (I am an employee) has filtered the internet. All social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. are blocked as are Youtube, Optiboard, Opticampus, and a few others that I can't remember at this time. There is a computer in the breakroom and it is filtered as well. The business owners refuse to put in wireless access for employees or patients due to a fear that someone will hack into the EMR.

[cocoisland58]

At my old job we were not restricted at all but only used it for entertainment at lunchtime or during a lull. It was mostly the owner who would yell out "Come and check this out". We got our work done just fine and never abused the privilage of free access.

New job, entirely different. They are so anal about it that the poor receptionist still has to check insurance via the phone. I pointed out that most insurances have a web portal that would nake her life easier and her job more efficient. She looked at me in horror and said "Anyone going online is immediatly terminated". Well God forbid then. I did notice that the doctor (not owner) has an access code and surfs around the net at leisure.

Sigh, the difference between small private office and small corporate office.

[For-Life]

The question is, are you concerned that people are going online to those websites or are you concerned with people not getting their work done? If it is the latter, take care of that.

[MikeAurelius]

The issue of banning cell phones at work stations can get you into trouble -- I'd check with an attorney if I were you. Cell phones have become a life-link between family members. If there is an accident, the EMT's and hospital staff always check cell phones and call ICE numbers (In Case of Emergency). That is usually a parent. Many times a work number is not in the cell phone directory for a parent, but the cell number is.

Not allowing them to have a cell phone on their person is setting you up for a lawsuit.

You can certainly RESTRICT usage, but not allowing it physically skirts the law I believe.

[MikeAurelius]

As far as limiting computer usage, that's easily arranged, most antivirus software suites have 'parental controls' built into them, and it's just a matter of setting up the necessary restrictions under a master password.

However, the need to limit internet surfing is usually an indication of lax management practices, so I'd look into that if I were you. Internet surfing usually happens because of boredom and nothing to do. Idle hands are the devils workshop as they say. Find something for them to do, otherwise they will find something to do themselves.

[cleyes]

Seeing someone texting at their work station has the same effect as when a patient answers cell during exam!! I get murderous urges not easily supressed.

[Rails3]

While I think it is a great idea to filter certain websites - I think it is far more important to ensure that your employees are given frequent and ample breaks.

Studies, and personal experience show that most employees have an overall higher productive work output when they are given frequent (every hour, bi-hourly), adequate (5-20 minute) breaks.

Going from a straight 8-hour work day, to breaking it up with many short breaks can increase performance by up to 20%.

I know it's counterintuitive, but allowing your employees to go on Facebook for 10-15 minutes every hour ends up making them more productive in the long run.

A small percentage of employees 5% or less will abuse the privilege if you are up front about it.

[fjpod]

While I think it is a great idea to filter certain websites - I think it is far more important to ensure that your employees are given frequent and ample breaks.

Studies, and personal experience show that most employees have an overall higher productive work output when they are given frequent (every hour, bi-hourly), adequate (5-20 minute) breaks.

Going from a straight 8-hour work day, to breaking it up with many short breaks can increase performance by up to 20%.

I know it's counterintuitive, but allowing your employees to go on Facebook for 10-15 minutes every hour ends up making them more productive in the long run.

A small percentage of employees 5% or less will abuse the privilege if you are up front about it.

Hmmmmm...an interesting point of view...Can you give sources to back up your percentages...or even the concept that 20 minute breaks every hour improve the productivity of the business?

[For-Life]

Hmmmmm...an interesting point of view...Can you give sources to back up your percentages...or even the concept that 20 minute breaks every hour improve the productivity of the business?

I do not have any studies at hand, but I know there is HR research to back it up. Maybe not 20 minutes every hour. But five minutes makes sense.

I know when I did my studies and when I work, I use breaks as an incentive. If I focus hard on my work for an hour, I take five minutes to check the news. Thus, I am not squirming or avoiding things in that first hour.

[fjpod]

I'm in total agreement with 5 minutes per hour, especially if you work on a computer.

[MarySue]

Hmmmmm...an interesting point of view...Can you give sources to back up your percentages...or even the concept that 20 minute breaks every hour improve the productivity of the business?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40673276713 -- of course that's from Facebook

http://blogs.forbes.com/adamhartung/...mepagechannels -- Forbes Blog, a bit more reliable

[fjpod]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40673276713 -- of course that's from Facebook

http://blogs.forbes.com/adamhartung/...mepagechannels -- Forbes Blog, a bit more reliable

Well, I read the one from Forbes, and what I got out of it is that businesses should let their employees use Facebook for furthering the interests of the business. I don't have a problem with that, but it doesn't sound like break time to me. It sounds like more work on the computer.

[MarySue]

Well, I read the one from Forbes, and what I got out of it is that businesses should let their employees use Facebook for furthering the interests of the business. I don't have a problem with that, but it doesn't sound like break time to me. It sounds like more work on the computer.

Ah that's the beauty - it's something the employees actually enjoy - therefore work is fun!

[Brian_RSLD]

Hi guys,
I wanted to chime in on filtering at work. We have three locations and I use filtering at each of them. The most offensive stuff is obviously filtered adult sites and the like, but I also am able to filter known virus/spyware problem sites. I use a service called OpenDNS and I love it. The service is free and it works by simply entering in the IP address of their DNS servers into the router for your network (or each individual computer that you wish to filter on your network). Create an account and choose what you want filtered. You then choose a computer that is on all of the time and install the ip address updater, provided by OpenDNS, (not necessary if you have a static public IP) and you are set. You can filter multiple networks by creating multiple hosts in your OpenDNS account and repeating the router and updater setup for that network.

[BIDEEOD]

Filtering with a blacklist is way too hard and way too permisive and way to unsecure.

I use hardware and software to create a whitelist of acceptable URLs. Basically the router restricts all traffic except those on the approved list. This has been extremely effective and secure for many years. No emal no browsing, nothing. Unfortunately the advent of smartphones is upon us. At least they aren't connected to my network but they will create a productivity problem for me.