Bosses tell staff to stop looking at smut

UK bosses are starting to crack down on employees' web surfing habits in the workplace, having previously tolerated much of it in the name of harmonious working relationships.

However, employers appear to be growing tired of the liberties taken by their workers, and have become fearful of the risks posed to them by giving staff free reign to surf, such as litigation, network security and lost productivity.

In the past year various companies have seen their names dragged through the mud by the online antics of their employees. Other firms have been hit with heavy fines resulting from illegally downloaded material, such as music files, being stored on their corporate networks.

Research firm Datamonitor says companies are now taking measures against surfing in the workplace, including blocking certain sites and monitoring online activity.

Two thirds of firms surveyed by Datamonitor admit to monitoring their employees' web surfing habits. Of these companies, 40 per cent say they monitor staff on a regular basis.

Unsurprisingly, among the most common URLs being blocked are ones offering pornographic content. File sharing sites and those which just provide a general distraction, such as gaming, are also being made off-limits in the workplace.