We already talked about how the internet misused in the workplace affect companies, some options to prevent this issue at work, and also how to help the employees to avoid the danger of Internet misuse. But what about if your employees are already an internet addict? How can the employer help to break the cycle?
In companies across the country, internet addiction among employees is a growing problem. Right now we use the internet to do the majority of our work, we spent a lot of hours on the internet. This increased usage gives people more opportunities to cyberslack during working hours. In addition, the majority of the employees have personal computers at home or even on their cellphones where they can continue their online activities increasing the risk of becoming an internet addict. As I mentioned on my other post, companies are trying to avoid to fire people for Internet misuse by educating them on this aspect. But what about if you recently discovered that one or more of your employees are victims of internet addiction?
This article bring up some steps that we can take to intervene and break the cycle. The following suggestions will enable you to rehabilitate most internet addicted employees and keep them as valuable members of your team.
Step one:
-Ask internet addicted employees how they feel when finally do log off.
-First of all they must acknowledge that a problem exist.
-You need to find out if they are using the Internet to connect with others or to disconnect from the world. Those who realize they are online to disconnect are ready to acknowledge their problem and begin the recovery process.
Step two:
-Explain that you are their ally to help them connect with other employees.
-Let your employees know that you want to help and that you goal for them to overcome the addiction.
Step three:
-Together create a plan to stop the addiction
-Gradually reduce the hours your employee work using the internet
Step four:
-Know when to back off
-Have some precautions so you don’t become too emotional involved.
-Realize you are an employer or manager, not a therapist or best friend.
Employee Internet addiction is a real problem with serious consequences. When you witness a problem in your own organization, intervention is the best process to a agreeable solution.
Do you think internet misuse at workplace can be the beginning of becoming an internet addict? Do you agree that your employer should be involved on helping the employees overcome internet addiction?
"When Your Employee is an Internet Addict: How to Help Break the Cycle"
Mike Foster. June 19 2012
<http:www.internetmisuse.com>
I believe that if you misuse the internet at a workplace then you are already a candidate of internet addiction. If employees are not doing there work during work hours and are always on the internet then there is a problem. Also I dont believe that the employer will help employees overcome there internet addiction problem. The employer is there in order to conduct business not to help someone with a internet addiction problem. I feel like if a problem were to occur and a employer did find out, the employer would just fire the employee or give them a warning.
ReplyDeleteInternet addiction has been an addiction way before they started to use it at work! With the way the technology is improving the Internet misuse is going to become a bigger addition to what it is now. Everything revolves around a computer or a laptop now even a phone or and tablet, the moment your not busy what do people do they surf the Web the companies have to start giving the permission to employees to have access to all websites and only have access to work webpages to have control over it.
ReplyDelete