Litigation Value: $1,500.00 (or a few hours of their attorney’s time to prepare an internet usage policy)
It’s nice to be back! Thanks again to my guest blogger, Troy Foster, for pitching in while I had to work.
Did anyone else notice how many Dunder Mifflin employees were using their computers for anything but work? Creed was playing computer solitaire; Jim and Dwight were playing Internet reality games; and I’m sure that others were surfing all kinds of marginally inappropriate (and certainly not business-related) websites. In addition to the productivity lost to online bill paying, sports web sites and the Wall Street Journal online, unmonitored internet activity could expose Dunder Mifflin to a cornucopia of legal problems. For example, harassment claims brought after employees download crude jokes and forward them to co-workers; download porn; or use offensive images as screensavers. Unmonitored and unrestricted internet usage could also result in the disclosure of sensitive information. And now, as they roll out the new “Dunder Mifflin Infinity” technology, would be the perfect time to take preventative action.
If they called, I’d tell Dunder Mifflin to develop an internet monitoring system that detects objectionable websites and allows them to react appropriately if an employee accesses those sites. I’d also tell them to let the employees know about this system in writing. It is just the tip of the iceberg but maybe, just maybe, Dunder Mifflin can avoid the inevitable employee-relations disaster that arises when Michael uses his work computer to try out internet dating.
