Social networks, chat rooms, personal emails, and entertainment websites are frequently accessed during work hours for personal activities, leading companies to adopt digital monitoring measures. Although this practice may generate dissatisfaction among employees, it is a legitimate and necessary initiative to ensure the proper use of corporate resources. It is important for professionals to understand that accessing inappropriate or unrelated work content represents a considerable risk, since the company has the legal right to monitor browsing on their devices. If misuse of company resources is detected, the organization may even apply sanctions, such as dismissal for cause. Responsible internet use in the workplace not only protects the integrity of professionals but also contributes to an environment of trust and productivity.
With access control clearly outlined in the employment contract or company regulations, accessing prohibited content can lead to dismissal justified by "incontinence of conduct or misconduct." According to Article 482, 'b', of the CLT (Brazilian Labor Law), "The employee may be dismissed as a result of violating the company's code of conduct, due to improper use of professional equipment."
Citizens are protected by the constitutional provision of the inviolability of correspondence, but an employee cannot invoke this aspect of the legislation when a company rule is violated. If the company takes the necessary precautions, informing the employee of the rules and access control for the Internet at the time of signing the employment contract, the employee cannot justify a lack of information and guidance by claiming ignorance of the company's rules limiting access to internet content, based on the inviolability of their right to privacy.
Company responsibility
When an illegal act is committed using a company's equipment or corporate email, the company can be held legally liable for the consequences. Therefore, managers seek to protect themselves by adopting monitoring and control policies. Regarding the use of corporate email, if electronic messages sent by employees cause harm to third parties, the employer will be responsible for the damages, as stipulated by article 932, item III, of the Civil Code. This legal provision establishes the company's right to monitor and control the use of corporate email, ensuring that its resources are not used for acts that could compromise its integrity and reputation. Thus, monitoring is a prudent and necessary measure to protect the organization against potential legal risks.
When the employee is right
Some computer monitoring services used in companies can even capture bank passwords, for example, if they are typed on company equipment. Therefore, the employee needs to be clearly informed that they are being monitored. Otherwise, the company may have problems.
The best way to maintain focus in the workplace is to block access to social networks, chats, personal emails, entertainment websites, and any other inappropriate resources during work hours. Lumiun DNS is a highly effective solution for implementing this access control, offering the ability to filter content and block specific categories of websites, ensuring that employees do not access unwanted or potentially harmful resources. With Lumiun DNS, it is possible to configure customized browsing policies, aligned with the needs of each team and department, without violating the professional's right to privacy. This policy contributes to a safe and productive work environment, preventing activities that could pose risks to the company's security and reputation.
It is important to emphasize that simply blocking certain activities does not prevent illegal actions from being carried out using company equipment. Therefore, training and guidance for employees are necessary for the responsible use of technology resources.
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