While there are some major problems with internet misuse in the workplace, does it actually decrease productivity? "According to the influential University of Melbourne study with Dr. Brent Coker, not only does internet use at work not result in decreased productivity, but, in fact, employees who accessed Facebook periodically throughout the workday actually showed a 9% increase in productivity." However, the decrease in productivity would start if employees started to only use the internet for personal use. Everything should be done in moderation. I personally use the internet for personal use at work. I will put on Netflix on the background while I do work, and I find that I actually end up getting a lot of work done, and I'm entertained while I'm doing it. I think that a little bit of personal use can keep you motivated, and even keep you on task.
Do you think that you can multitask at work and still be productive? How much misuse is too much?
http://www.andrewjensen.net/cellphones-facebook-and-personal-email-affect-productivity-at-work/
Good for you for being able to get your work done while Netflix is playing in the background but I am the exact opposite haha. I am unable to do work while also surfing the web or doing something fun on it. I believe that there is a time for work and a time for play and I like to keep them both seperate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the study done in this article. The more I think about, it makes more sense. What I try to take away from this is that while at work, people know the things that they have to get done. Internet misuse in the workplace, to me, is just an excuse from the "bosses" about their employees being on the internet. If I put myself this situation, and I'm able to periodically check my Facebook or other social networking sites, this in turn gives me a peace of mind. Having this peace of mind, I honestly think, would increase my productivity at work as the same for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree to an extent with this study. I have often found myself bored at work when I am unable to access the internet, especially when there is a lot of down time on the job. I am a lot more motivated to do work faster when a job finally comes in because I want to get done with it as soon as possible. But if I know that after I finish the job I will just be sitting around waiting for the next one, I wont be as motivated to do my work as fast. But if all you do at work is browse the internet all day and still get paid for it, you will have little to no motivation for doing any work at all.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about this. But I imagine it does keep the worker sane. In my own personal experience, when I study I do have to take a break here and there and its usually to check my email or facebook. I think that allowing access to the internet for personal use could be okay as long as the worker doesnt abuse it. I say if they do a good job and show productivity then let them be! With that said though there has to be someone monitoring them, if you notice some workers are not being as productive, it maybe time ease up on thier internet access.
ReplyDeleteInteresting study, I do think in a way it does help, but it can be ant-productive. Maybe something like instead of cigarette breaks allowing employees designated facebook or personal e-mail breaks might help. I think if employee's moderated the free-time more, they would notice more efficient workers.
ReplyDeleteComing from the point of view of an employee who frequently uses computers at the workplace, I find this article to be very interesting. I can see how moderate internet breaks can allow for workers to not only be productive, but happier at their jobs. However; I do have to take in to account the amount of people who do not know how to control their use of the internet. As you said, when does some become to much? As long as productivity doesn't decrease, I suppose whatever it is that helps an employee gets through their day, should be allowed.
ReplyDeleteInternet misuse is more costly to companies than photocopying, or most other office facilities. Internet misuse in corporations is a technological problem. And technology shoud be the solution that should help solve it, with approriate education applied along the line. But I don't think internet misuse decrease productivity. For certain jobs, espcially some stressed projects, taking break to do their personal thing online is not viewd to decrease productivity. Employees could get more efficienty from that break.
ReplyDeleteThis is a interesting find that studies show that internet misuse does not decrease productivity. In my own experience and watching others when misusing the internet it really does decrease productivity because you are focused on something else more than your work.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a very fine line with this study. On one hand you have people, like you and I, that can use the internet to help us be more productive (ex. Netflix, or listening to music in the background), on the other however, you will have people who will use it as an out to escape from work and will not do any work. I would like to see more studies into this.
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