The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was engulfed in a media firestorm earlier this year when 28 agency employees were found downloading inappropriate and explicit images and videos on government computers while on and off the clock.
While one bad employee can be a huge problem for any team or organization, 28 bad employees can be catastrophic. From attorneys to supervisors to accountants, these SEC employees went as far as to disable internet filters on their computers to view unsuitable material.
One employee allegedly made 16,000 attempts in one month alone to access blocked websites from their SEC computer, while another spent eight consecutive hours downloading graphic images and video until he filled up his computer’s hard drive. For such inappropriate workplace conduct, not to mention the incredible waste of company time and resources, all 28 agency employees have won the honor of the bad employee of the week award.
To ensure your employees aren’t wasting company time and resources or engaging in unsuitable internet behavior at work, make sure you have an internet policy in place. An internet policy will establish boundaries and rules for your team. And, it can help discourage employees from viewing inappropriate content at work or even from spending too much time on websites that aren’t related to their job. Whether it’s catching up on the latest TMZ gossip, playing Pac-Man online, or watching full coverage of the 2010 World Cup, too much time on the internet can hinder workplace productivity. Having an internet policy in place will help protect you and your team.
Do you have a bad employee story?
Share your bad employee stories at www.100worstemployees.com. Your identity, the employee’s identity, and company’s name will be changed to maintain confidentiality. If your story is selected to be featured in 100 Worst Employees, you will receive an autographed, pre-release copy of the book.
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