Blame It On The Internet

from the if-you-need-a-reason dept

An official in a Malaysian state says 20 percent of its employees use government computers to surf the internet, and it’s apparently one of the main causes of poor productivity there. It’s always funny how employers — anywhere in the world — find it easier to just throw blame at something for workers’ poor performance, rather than truly question the real causes. The internet isn’t making these people slack off, and if they didn’t have it, they’d spend their time reading magazines or taking coffee breaks or something. The internet’s just a time-killer for these employees, and what’s keeping them from doing their work is a lack of motivation, not the endless possibilities offered by a broadband connection and Google.


Rate this comment as insightful
Rate this comment as funny
You have rated this comment as insightful
You have rated this comment as funny
Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam
You have flagged this comment
The first word has already been claimed
The last word has already been claimed
Insightful Lightbulb icon Funny Laughing icon Abusive/trolling/spam Flag icon Insightful badge Lightbulb icon Funny badge Laughing icon Comments icon

Comments on “Blame It On The Internet”

Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment
9 Comments
Tyshaun says:

Corporate Trust

Well, the company can always throw more spyware on their boxes and pay people to monitor other peoples surfing. Seems like a waste of money though!

Seems to me a more reasonale solution is to set up performance goals for people, if they are meeting the performance standards you set, who cares if they surf the web or not?

This arguement is almost like why so many companies are still leary of telecommuniting. The bottom line really is if you don’t trust your employees, get different ones.

? says:

While I agree, for the most part....

Bad employees will always be bad. But there do appear to be some good employees who may lack the self discipline to be productive when given too much freedom in the work place.

I have been in places where fellow employes just surf the web all day, but were really quite good at their jobs before the access was granted to them. And when it gets taken away, many of them see the problem, and become good employees again (though some just completely failed).

Guse says:

internet

I surf at work but I also work at work, when there is work to do. My job description states 40% is research. So I try to keep surfing work related, but then you start stretching your defination of work related and then it gets personal. Somedays when I have tons to do, internet is a break. Believe me please, I would much rather be working than surfing at work. That’s why it’s called work and that’s why i’m here.

Leave a Reply to Bigkid Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

A weekly news podcast from
Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw

Subscribe now to Ctrl-Alt-Speech »
Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...