Union officials have argued that the council had put
"temptation in their way" by not putting a block on access to
non-work sites as people can get "addicted" to some websites.
The council says that one employee was sacked and two others
resigned after an investigation into the "unacceptable level of
usage" by some workers of the internet for personal purposes.
Graham Jones, personnel chief at the council told BBC News: "We
have a policy of allowing employees to use the internet in their
own time. But we clearly don't want them to use it in council time.
At the end of the day they are employed to do a job of work and not
to shop online."
The Unison union – which represents the workers – claimed the
council has overreacted and is demanding it changes its rules on
internet access.
The council has security software in place to prevent access to
block "inappropriate" sites but eBay is not listed among them,
according to the BBC. Unison suggests that general internet access
be limited to lunch breaks and that access be filtered at other
times.
Struan Robertson, a technology lawyer with Pinsent Masons, the
law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, said the case serves as a useful
reminder to employers to check their internet use policies. "Many
employers want to allow some personal use of the internet subject
to limitations," he said. "What is and is not allowed, and the
consequences of misuse, should be detailed in an internet policy or
a wider communications policy. These policies should also be
reflected in an organisation's disciplinary policy."
"Remember that policies must be communicated to all employees,
and they also need to be enforced. Turning a blind eye to policy
breaches is asking for trouble."
How to monitor staff legally, including their internet use, is
the subject of a free OUT-LAW Breakfast
Seminar in November.
