Improving workers' productivity and reducing Internet abuse

Abstract

The Internet and e-mail have become common in today's working environment. Although such technology arguably has made employees more efficient and has improved communication, it also has surfaced new areas of concerns. Many employers have started monitoring their workers' abuse of the Internet. In fact, many companies are implementing monitoring software solutions that can record every digital move made by a worker. The monitoring of employees for their Internet abuse has resulted in lawsuits between employers and employees. Obviously, this has created a tension between employers and employees. How does Internet make any impact on workers' productivity? Has it made any difference in employers' and employees' relationship at the workplace? What could be done to reduce Internet abuse and improve workers' productivity? These are the kinds of questions that are addressed in this paper.