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Just install a logging program in your router and post the logs in a public place. That way, your employees will have to own up to any wasted time instead of fi

Just install a logging program in your router and post the logs in a public place. That way, your employees will have to own up to any wasted time instead of find ways to circumvent it. It's also a good accountability program for your employees. This idea just came to mind. Do you guys think something like this would work? As far as your original question goes, I don't know of anything off the top of my head, but you could always get a sort of parental guardian box the plugs in between your router and your internet connection. Those usually have a block by site function built into them, as well as password protecting certain sites (you know, if you want to bypass your own security to get to HN or whatever).

BrandonM 19y ago
It's a reasonable idea, but I don't know if "public" is the best approach. Unless you meant "internally-public", in which case I think it's a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, in most cases it is not simply employee laziness that drives people to waste time online, but a dull, non-challenging task which could be completed in an hour or two if it did not mean simply receiving additional work with no real benefit. In other words, I feel like the situations where it would be necessary would almost always be the same situations where the employee is actually acting rationally.
- dkokelley 19y ago
  Yeah I meant internally public. You can't have outsiders (competitors) knowing what your employee's surfing habits are. They could have certain projects compromised. Of course if your employees are visiting these sites out of sheer boredom, then there's another issue taking place. If the management (don't know how large this company is) is good enough, they could watch the trends in their employee's surfing and turn it into a time to learn why they're spending so much time on non-work related sites, and hopefully provide them with more meaningful and efficient work.
immad 19y ago
I am not a fan. It makes people feel like kids having there surfing habits posted. Would be better to make them feel empowered and responsible for their work. Though I guess thats not always possible...
- dkokelley 19y ago
  Well, as opposed to a website blocker, I thought it would be a step above. You're not restricting their actions explicitly, they just have a peer pressure style of accountability. Of course it could backfire and turn into a "Who can spend the most time on myspace this week" contest. Oh, it looks like Dave (name picked at random) is the winner with 12 entire hours! Way to go, Dave! Still, I thought it was an interesting alternative to actual site-blocking.

BrandonM 19y ago

It's a reasonable idea, but I don't know if "public" is the best approach. Unless you meant "internally-public", in which case I think it's a pretty good idea. Unfortunately, in most cases it is not simply employee laziness that drives people to waste time online, but a dull, non-challenging task which could be completed in an hour or two if it did not mean simply receiving additional work with no real benefit. In other words, I feel like the situations where it would be necessary would almost always be the same situations where the employee is actually acting rationally.

dkokelley 19y ago
Yeah I meant internally public. You can't have outsiders (competitors) knowing what your employee's surfing habits are. They could have certain projects compromised. Of course if your employees are visiting these sites out of sheer boredom, then there's another issue taking place. If the management (don't know how large this company is) is good enough, they could watch the trends in their employee's surfing and turn it into a time to learn why they're spending so much time on non-work related sites, and hopefully provide them with more meaningful and efficient work.

immad 19y ago

I am not a fan. It makes people feel like kids having there surfing habits posted. Would be better to make them feel empowered and responsible for their work. Though I guess thats not always possible...

dkokelley 19y ago
Well, as opposed to a website blocker, I thought it would be a step above. You're not restricting their actions explicitly, they just have a peer pressure style of accountability. Of course it could backfire and turn into a "Who can spend the most time on myspace this week" contest. Oh, it looks like Dave (name picked at random) is the winner with 12 entire hours! Way to go, Dave! Still, I thought it was an interesting alternative to actual site-blocking.