In the Digital Age, Companies Need Web Policies

Now that even the smallest shops and businesses are going digital, the need for online codes of conduct has never been greater. Employee access to Web surfing, e-mail and instant messaging might afford more freedom, but it also raises the risks for potential disaster.

Limiting employees' network and Internet access clearly isn't the solution, especially if it interferes with the basic functions of their job. On the other hand, human nature being what it is, granting free reign with no rules and regulations can be a recipe for trouble. Responsible owners would be wise to establish and enforce e-office policies, if only to protect their investment and business image.

One often-asked question is whether employers have the right to monitor online traffic and view the contents of employees' e-mail. Based on the Federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act, it is perfectly legal if the equipment being used is owned by the employer and provided to employees as part of their job.

Employees might grouse, but there are good reasons for this. Many businesses are limited in their available Internet bandwidth. If you have a handful of employees downloading massive amounts of data, watching streaming videos or playing online games, it can cause some unnecessary bottlenecks in legitimate workflow.