Business Law: Internet Use at the Workplace Essay

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Introduction

Several decades ago no one heard about the Internet. A decade ago it was used primarily for “e-mail and retrieving information” (Anandarajan and Simmers 271). Nowadays it is unquestionable that the Internet occupies an important place in our everyday life and, what is more, it is one of the major business tools. It gives us access to unlimited sources of useful information, it may be used as the means of data transmission and it may make the process of communication much easier. On the one hand, the Internet is a “gift”, which makes our life and work more comfortable and simple, but on the other hand, the appearance and widespread of Internet communications hurt society as well. They say that are always two sides to the medal, and inappropriate use of the Internet at work is nowadays one of the new problems, that is faced by employers, employees, and lawmakers nowadays.

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The description of the problem

To prove that the problem of inappropriate use of the Internet at the workplace is of vital importance today, it is necessary to depict the way this inappropriate use is exercised. The causes of the problem are defined by Anandarajan, Simmers, and Teo: the first explanation involves “diminished self-control associated with a strong habit”, it means that Internet use has been recently shaped as addiction when an employee starts losing control over his/her actions, and his/her use of the Internet acquires similar features with mania (57). The absence of self-control is characteristic for such employees. The second variant of misuse of the Internet is a deliberate act, which is caused by a habit or tendency to procrastinate the work “with a subsequent tendency to offer diminished self-control as an excuse” (Anandarajan 57). Among the definite actions that may fall into the category of inappropriate use of the Internet, the following may be defined: the use of the technical resources for personal purposes, which have nothing in common with the work of the company; the use that can violate the law; the access of the cites with “specific” content that may be regarded as immoral, etc. The problem is very vital nowadays, because of the high demand for the Internet and its seriousness is intensified by the novelty and absence of research on the part of business lawyers and law-makers.

Theoretical information from the sources

To analyze the problem under study better, we appealed to two sources on the topic. Their choice was made according to their correlation with the topic, the volume of the material, and the diversity of the problematic questions tackled in the work. The book “Managing Web Usage in the Workplace: A Social, Ethical and Legal Perspective” by Anandarajan and Simmers, describes the revolutionary nature of the Global Web and stresses the problem of Web abuse by individuals and organizations. It even tackles the problem of Internet abuse within different cultures and countries, which may be helpful for us, as the application of global perspective may be of great use. The authors describe in much detail the way the workplace has changed due to the Internet. This information is very important because we have to get to know the nature of the problem to find ways how to solve it. Of great interest is the information about “legal, financial, and operational risks” that arose in connection with Internet abuse at work (Anandarajan and Simmers 279). It presents information about existing companies and their concern with Internet abuse at work (Bard Manufacturing, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital).

The first source has created a favorable ground for our better understanding of more specific information. The article “Inappropriate Use of E-Mail and the Internet in the Workplace: The Arbitration Picture” deals with business law directly. Light ash has presented the issues that can arise, when “the employer disciplines or discharges an employee for what the employer considers to be inappropriate use of its computer system” (26). The author gives the classification of “misuse” according to the level of seriousness of possible harm, tackles such types of misuse as viewing pornography, which is a very problematic issue, for the appropriate punishment for it has not been established yet. The author analyses several case studies concerning viewing pornography at work, making a conclusion that possible punishment may extend from fines to discharging of the employee. The article sheds light on “chain letters” and disruptive messages as a form of Internet misuse and summarizes liability issues.

At the present moment, I cannot say that the problem of inappropriate use of the Internet concerns me directly, but in some time it is sure to be important for me too. Being an employee I may suffer a fine, suspension, or even discharge, which may be ruinous for my reputation, financial status, and future career. I know a real case, which happened to my acquaintance. He was discharged for viewing pornography at work, though he had opened the link by chance, it was considered the evidence against him. What is more, it was a hard blow for his professional reputation.

Besides, in the future, there is the possibility that I may become an employer. In that case, inappropriate use of the Internet will be even more important for me. The “hidden costs” of improper use of the Internet may be as follows: lost productivity, liability for “sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, discrimination, invasion of privacy, defamation, emotional distress” (Lichtash 32). All these charges are rather serious and may harmfully affect the business.

The importance of the Internet misuse

To overcome the problem of improper use of the Internet at the workplace, certain technological measures may be taken. The companies should establish certain ways of monitoring the e-mails of the staff. However, this monitoring should not violate the right to privacy of the employees. The companies may also block access to sites that are dangerous or unwanted.

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Solution

Besides, the employers should work out the policies that will present clear demands and rules of the work with the Internet for the employees, and they should make sure that the personnel is aware of the restrictions and rules of the policies. On the state level, lawmakers should also work on this issue and pass laws, which will help to control the situation with Internet abuse.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it may be stated that the problem of Internet misuse at work has proved to be very important, if it may cause such serious damages as an employee’s discharge and employer’s loss of productivity. The current situation in our high-tech society suggests that the problem will become even more serious over time unless the measures are taken. Employers should be guided by-laws, and employees should practice common sense and a high degree of responsibility to avoid lawsuits.

Works Cited

Lichtash, Ayelet “Ellie”. “Inappropriate Use of E-Mail and the Internet in the Workplace: The Arbitration Picture.” Dispute Resolution Journal 59. (2004).

Anandarajan, Murugan and Claire Simmers. Managing Web Usage in the Workplace: A Social, Ethical and Legal Perspective. Hershey: Idea Group Inc., 2003.

Anandarajan, Murugan, Simmers, Clair and Thompson Teo. The Internet and Workplace Transformation. NY: M.E. Shape, 2006.

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IvyPanda. (2021) 'Business Law: Internet Use at the Workplace'. 21 November.

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IvyPanda. 2021. "Business Law: Internet Use at the Workplace." November 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/business-law-internet-use-at-the-workplace/.

1. IvyPanda. "Business Law: Internet Use at the Workplace." November 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/business-law-internet-use-at-the-workplace/.


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IvyPanda. "Business Law: Internet Use at the Workplace." November 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/business-law-internet-use-at-the-workplace/.

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