There are two major reasons to introduce policies for Internet and email use within your business:
- to ensure that communications resources are not wasted and productivity doesn't suffer.
- to help protect the business from potentially damaging material being sent or received via the Internet or email and any possible resulting legal action.
In general, providing Internet access and email facilities to your staff has tremendous benefits. It can increase efficiency, aid communication and help employees increase their basic IT skills. Allowing staff to access the Internet outside working hours can be seen as a perk of the job. However, controlling and policing such access may be difficult.Trivial abuses of the system include transferring large file attachments, or wasting work time on Internet surfing, personal email or online chat. More serious risks include:
More serious misconduct may result in disciplinary or even legal proceedings. This includes:
- accessing or downloading pornography or other offensive material
- libelling or defaming colleagues, or even external business contacts, via email
- using the Internet to commit fraud or other illegal acts
Introducing Internet and email usage policies should help you avoid these risks. It should also ensure that your business and staff get the best possible use out of your IT system.
Download our Acceptable Internet Usage Policy Document which you can tailor for your own specific needs. Once staff have signed this agreement, file in their Employee File.
NOTE: This file has been created in Microsoft Word format and is available for instant download. Once you have purchased this document, you will be emailed a link. The link will direct you to the download page. If you do not receive this email after purchase, then your transaction has not been completed fully. Please ensure you follow each step of the purchase process in PayPal. You should see a screen advising that your transaction has been successful before leaving PayPal.
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