Internet access control has become a very common practice among companies, mainly due to the numerous benefits it can provide. Blocking WhatsApp is one of the most common measures used by companies seeking to ensure greater productivity.
While the internet is an environment rich in information and resources to make everyday life more practical, it also poses numerous threats to productivity and digital security within a business.
Does blocking certain resources during the workday make a difference to your employees' productivity?
How important is it to block some tools?
Blocking certain tools and websites that aren't related to the company's operations helps ensure that employees remain focused on the activities that are truly important to business continuity. But how can you tell if your company is experiencing productivity issues? Check out this article and find out if your business can be more productive!
Blocking WhatsApp, for example, is an increasingly common measure in the corporate environment, and the objective is always the same: to help employees stay focused and protect company resources and information against the major cyberattacks that are becoming increasingly common.
This is because WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app in Brazil , with over 120 million active accounts, second only to India in number of users. For this reason, many companies end up using this tool to complement their marketing strategy, and many users also use it to make purchases.
Indiscriminate internet use creates vulnerability points that cybercriminals exploit to penetrate company systems and networks. These threats can reach users in a variety of ways, and WhatsApp is one of them. Through this tool, employees can not only become distracted while working, but also receive malicious links, chain letters, and corrupted files . These traps ultimately enable the application of various scams.
When it comes to productivity, accessing entertainment sites, social media, personal emails, e-commerce sites, and WhatsApp can consume a significant amount of time available for company activities. Besides losing focus, employees tend to deal with personal issues during work hours , hindering the delivery of essential business tasks.
These pages and tools cause employees to waste a lot of time dealing with personal matters and end up hindering the delivery of essential company demands.
Can a company block WhatsApp?
Blocking websites and resources on company computers is a feature used to prevent employees from becoming excessively distracted and wasting too much time accessing this type of content that is unrelated to their work.
Since this blocking is usually carried out for security purposes and to protect the company's interests, there is no impediment for managers to block certain resources that harm the business and are not essential to carrying out the activity for which the employee was hired.
Legally speaking, a company has complete freedom to create rules for internet use within the workplace, including blocking WhatsApp. This is because, once there is a reasonable justification (in this case, the interest in maintaining productivity and protecting company resources from cyberattacks ), the company can implement internal rules regarding internet use during working hours.
In this sense, the company may even prevent access to pages and content considered harmful or strictly aimed at leisure.
What does the legislation say?
The Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT ), in its article 482, which addresses the rules for dismissal for just cause, states that in the event of "misconduct or misconduct," the employee's contract may be terminated. Therefore, if an employee is aware of the rules implemented by the company, they may be dismissed if they commit a misconduct regarding internet access during working hours.
In this sense, companies have full legal support to control access to certain content , resources, or pages on the corporate internet, as long as everyone is informed and aware of this control. To this end, the company can develop a Conscious Internet Use Policy , establishing the rules regarding the correct and ethical use of the internet during working hours.
Indiscriminate use of the company's internet can cause countless losses for the business, so the tools used to ensure productivity are of great help to companies seeking better results.
Since employees are hired to work a specific workload in the company's interests, it's only fair to have efficient tools that help ensure their focus and productivity.
Advantages of blocking WhatsApp at work
As we've seen, blocking WhatsApp within your company can bring numerous benefits. Let's look at the main advantages of blocking within your company as soon as possible:
Increased productivity
By eliminating the main issues that cause employees to waste time and stop performing their duties, the company can ensure that work is done more quickly , delivering increasingly positive results at the end of the period.
While the internet makes daily routines incredibly convenient, it's also full of pitfalls that are true enemies of productivity. Even without realizing it, employees can end up spending too much time on websites and resources unrelated to their work, hindering the delivery of tasks and the company's bottom line.
Higher quality results
For a job to be done well, it's necessary to have, in addition to the necessary knowledge, a strong focus and attention on what's being done. Therefore, blocking the company's WhatsApp helps employees stay focused on the activities being carried out and deliver superior results.
The more focus the employee has on carrying out their activities, the better the results delivered.
Smarter use of available time
The number of employees working for a company is directly related to the amount of work that needs to be done. If an employee spends a significant portion of their time on personal email, social media, WhatsApp, entertainment websites, stores, etc., it means they're not fully dedicated to their assigned task, losing themselves in the distractions of the internet .
This means that the number of employees hired isn't compatible with the workload to be shared, resulting in other employees receiving a greater workload. Blocking WhatsApp and other resources helps to make better use of the time available to carry out essential business activities.
With this lock, employees can increase their productivity and contribute to business growth.
Avoid internal conflicts
In environments where internet use is indiscriminate and employees can access all types of pages and content, it is very likely that some internal conflicts will arise.
Imagine the following scenario: two employees are hired for the same position, performing the same tasks. However, one of them spends much of their time accessing pages unrelated to their job, while the other performs their work with focus.
It's obvious, and even fair, that the other worker, who performs his or her duties with dedication and high productivity, is disturbed by the situation, and this ultimately generates internal conflict. Blocking the internet helps ensure that everyone is on an equal footing and can carry out their activities without interruptions or distractions.
Protection against digital threats
Every day, cybercriminals find ways and tools to hack into systems, corrupt data, and steal confidential information. WhatsApp is a popular tool for sending fake links and setting up financial scams. Therefore, blocking this tool can help prevent various types of attacks, such as:
Ransomware : Through this type of cyber attack, hackers hijack information , such as confidential files, or even interrupt company services, demanding a ransom payment to return data and access.
Phishing : Phishing scams have been around since the dawn of the internet, and through them, cybercriminals are able to steal personal information, credit card details, confidential documents , and other types of information.
Installation of viruses and malware : This type of file can cause major problems for the company, as they can corrupt data and systems, and lead to even more damaging scams for the business.
How to block WhatsApp using Lumiun Box
very simple task . In addition to blocking WhatsApp use on any device connected to the company network, with Lumiun Box you can determine which employees will have access blocked and which will not. Plus, there's no need to install any software or configure individual devices . All access rules are managed in a single dashboard simple and intuitive Lumiun Box control panel
In addition to blocking websites and categories , Lumiun Box has the following features:
- Corporate Firewall – Port protection for greater security of company data and information;
- Business VPN – To unite remote employees and protect access to systems and information;
- Traffic management – Visualize and manage traffic across the company’s network in a unified manner;
- Management Reports – Generate customized reports and more easily identify problems and actions to be taken.
Lumiun Lumiun Box is a customized solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses, priced based on the number of devices connected to the network . Without the need for technical knowledge or large server installation, the solution has gained widespread acceptance in the Brazilian market , primarily due to its value and ease of use.
Contact one of our experts and get a quote for your company. It's quick and no-obligation .
Until later!
