Proper Work Netiquette

There's no denying it: the internet is here to stay. And who isn't thrilled about that? Don't we all love the wonderful World Wide Web? Of course we do. But some employers feel differently. They see it as a distraction; a time waster that sucks the attention of otherwise dedicated employees. To them, the internet is the enemy.

A lot of employers don't understand that the internet can be an incredibly helpful professional tool. They assume that any employee caught "surfing the web" is goofing off. Even when I'm doing something 100% work related online, I still feel kind of guilty about it. Why? It's almost like I'm enjoying it too much!

Of course, we all know that the internet is the greatest resource available at our fingertips. But it's also the biggest junkyard in the world. If you're not careful, you can find yourself trapped in a mindless wasteland somewhere in the middle of the internet wilderness in just a few short clicks. It's no wonder employers fear it. How many times have you set out to research an important topic online, only to end up browsing Perez Hilton's latest celebrity scoop a few minutes later? And how often have you lost track of time while bouncing from blog to blog? A few hours pass and you've accomplished nothing but you've watched the same youtube clip three times.

In the grand scheme of things, the internet is still pretty new. And we're all just getting our feet wet with how to use it efficiently and effectively, especially in the workplace. A new term has even been coined - Netiquette - regarding online etiquette. This refers to the unwritten rules of behavior online. So let's delve into proper netiquette for the workplace, shall we?

Big Brother is Watching

At work, it's important to remember that the computer you're using does not belong to you. It's company property. Everything you do, every click you make, is public knowledge to your employer. The overall theme in workplace netiquette is this: don't browse any site you don't want your boss to know you're browsing.

Don't Job Search

I know how tempting it can be to hunt for a new job while at work. I've been there. But this is a seriously bad idea. Typically, you don't want to advertise with your current employer that you're looking to beat feet out of there. Keep it professional and job search at home, on your own time.

Don't Socialize

There's a difference between socializing and networking. Meeting up with friends to talk about what you did last weekend is socializing (MySpace, Facebook). Connecting with colleagues to discuss work situations and on-the-job tips is networking (OfficeArrow). Both can be fun but, when at work, stick to sites that focus on professional interaction rather than personal interaction.

Self-Censor

A lot of larger companies are blocking "restricted" sites on company computers. This typically means any site that may have inappropriate/non-work related materials. However, small and mid-sized companies usually don't do this and they rely on their employees to make intelligent browsing decisions. We all know what's ok and what's not when at work (what you do on your own time is your own business!). When you're sitting at your desk at work, don't try to "sneak a peek" at something you shouldn't. There's just no excuse for it.

Download with Caution

The computer belongs to the company so it goes without saying that downloading pirated music or movies or anything is completely wrong. Of course, it's wrong to do on your own computer too (sometime, I'll tell you the story about my friend who got sued for illegally downloading music - it's a REAL issue and a REAL crime). Anything that has to be downloaded from the internet should be done with extreme caution. If you need to download something for work purposes and it looks even slightly suspicious, call your IT department.

Protect Personal Passwords

Most of us spend more waking hours at the office than we do at home. So I understand the temptation to check your bank account balance and pay bills online from your work computer. But again, that computer isn't yours. It belongs to the company. If you let your computer save your passwords, and a co-worker has to borrow your computer when you're out sick one day, you've just given him complete access to your accounts. Now, many financial institutions don't allow passwords to be saved, but someone who knows what they're doing can probably find a way to get them. My advice: just be careful. Do what you feel is smart. Changing your passwords on a regular basis will certainly help. And if you do use a company computer for personal financial transactions, be sure to change all login info if you end up changing jobs. Better to be safe than sorry.