Accessing the internet daily has become a reality for a large part of the Brazilian population, and the digital world is becoming increasingly important in people's daily lives.
Regardless of social class, age, or lifestyle, users connect to and utilize the internet in diverse ways, for personal or professional purposes.
However, there is still much doubt when it comes to internet use in the professional environment , during working hours. On one hand, there is the disciplinary, directive, and regulatory power of the employer. On the other, there is the employee's privacy.
Do you know which one should prevail? And when can internet use at work lead to dismissal?
Here are some important points to consider when it comes to using the Internet at work :
Common sense
First and foremost, every employee who uses the internet in the workplace should have the common sense to know that they should not engage in personal activities during work hours.
However, if the employee needs to check any type of email or social media , it's important to maintain a balance.
Another, perhaps more important, concern is the use of cell phones, as improper use at work can lead to dismissal for cause .
If an employee uses the internet properly for work, there is no problem. However, the employee may be using personal email services, instant messaging, accessing social networks and websites with inappropriate content, while simultaneously performing, or should be performing, activities related to their work.
This is when common sense should prevail.
Ideally, limits for internet use by employees should be defined together, or even a specific schedule should be established. This makes it clear to the employee what, when, and how they can use the internet for personal purposes, and the employer retains the right to monitor and penalize if the limits are exceeded.
It is also very important to make these rules for internet use very clear to employees, as this avoids misunderstandings or misinformation, which is especially important in companies with a large number of employees using the internet.
Access control
If the company deems it necessary, it has the right to control , monitor, restrict, or prohibit internet access for private purposes. However, employees must first be formally informed.
Ideally, the company should add to its internal regulations and individual employment contract a clause stating that internet use for personal matters during work hours is controlled and monitored by the company.
This control can be implemented through a document with guidelines and training for employees, or through the use of internet management services that control internet access in the workplace.
Access rules can be defined according to the employer's needs, and access to malicious websites, inappropriate content, and social networks, for example, can be blocked.
a good software option for controlling internet access in companies . With Lumiun, it's possible to create flexible access rules and monitor usage through reports and graphs.
See more information about the solution in the Internet Access Control Guide for Businesses .
The solution works differently from what's usual on the market, as its main objective is to be easy to implement and manage. It's known that currently one of the biggest problems for companies is low productivity and lack of security , and it is in this segment that Lumiun operates, simplifying solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Privacy
If a company chooses to allow its employees to use the internet for personal purposes unrelated to work, it does not have the right to monitor the content of emails or other personal messages. In this case, the employee's privacy must be respected.
On the other hand, if internet access is permitted only for work-related activities, the company can monitor messages from email accounts and instant messaging programs provided by the company.
It can even control access to websites and services on the Internet, provided that the employee is aware and previously informed, as already mentioned.
Furthermore, companies have the right to protect their image or brand online, and are also responsible for the actions of their employees in certain situations, as stated in Article 5, Item X , of the Federal Constitution.
Penalties
If the rules and guidelines for internet access are disregarded by the employee, the company may apply disciplinary penalties and warnings, which may even lead to dismissal for just cause , provided that everything is established in the contract and it is possible to prove the employee's disregard for the rules established for internet use.
Ultimately, the most important points are balance and common sense on the part of both the company and the employee. The employer must find the right time to penalize employees while respecting their privacy.
Otherwise, the company may also be held liable for damages caused by a potential intrusion.
Employees should be aware that they should not use the corporate environment and work time to discuss personal matters. It is of great importance that employees exercise this prudence when using the internet.
Finally, it is worth noting that it would be advisable for the company, before starting to monitor emails and internet access, to implement a set of rules for the use of these work tools, clearly outlining for its employees when and how they should use them, so that it is clear that emails and internet access will be monitored.
I hope I've helped clarify any doubts you may have regarding unauthorized internet access in the workplace.
If you have any suggestions on the topic, please write them in the comments below.
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