Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Computer misuse

Employee misuse of employers' computer, email or internet facilities is a common issue in the workplace. For example, non-work-related use of the internet at work, viewing of inappropriate material such as pornography, and harassment of colleagues or criticism of the employer on social media might all constitute employee misconduct.

Employers should have in place an email and internet policy, setting out clearly how employees can use its email and internet facilities.

Computer misuse can be a particular problem during major sporting events, such as the football World Cup.


    • Absence
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Discrimination

    Rugby World Cup 2015: guidance for employers

    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2015
    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2015

    The Rugby World Cup 2015 begins on 18 September and ends with the final at Twickenham on 31 October. While...

    • Computer misuse
    • HR Technology

    Technostress: are employees running out of battery life?

    by Cath Everett 13 Apr 2015
    by Cath Everett 13 Apr 2015

    Technology can enable employees to work on anything, anytime, anywhere. But is over-exposure to ever-changing systems and updates creating a...

    • Tribunal Watch
    • Employment tribunals
    • Computer misuse

    Tribunal watch: Dismissals for email and internet misuse

    by Stephen Simpson 27 May 2014
    by Stephen Simpson 27 May 2014

    This week, we look at some recent employment tribunal decisions in which the issue was whether or not employees accused...

    • Absence
    • Sickness absence
    • Race discrimination

    World Cup 2014: six winning tactics for employers

    by Personnel Today 19 May 2014
    by Personnel Today 19 May 2014

    The 2014 World Cup kicks off in Brazil on 12 June, with 63 matches being played before the competition’s final...

    • Case law
    • Employment law
    • Data protection

    Former employee ordered to give employer log-in details of LinkedIn account she set up

    by Kate Hodgkiss 25 Sep 2013
    by Kate Hodgkiss 25 Sep 2013

    In DLA Piper’s case of the week, the High Court required a former employee to hand over the details of...

    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • HR practice

    Legal opinion: The risks of interfering in employees’ private Facebook use

    by Joanna Dodd 10 Dec 2012
    by Joanna Dodd 10 Dec 2012

    The rise in the use of social media is a real worry for many employers. Employment lawyer Joanna Dodd says that...

    • Bullying and harassment
    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Workplace cyberbullying on the rise

    by Jo Faragher 2 Nov 2012
    by Jo Faragher 2 Nov 2012

    Cyberbullying has become as common in the workplace as “conventional” bullying, according to a study by academics from the University...

    • HR practice
    • HR strategy
    • Computer misuse

    Weekly dilemma: Dealing with a deceased employee’s emails

    by Personnel Today 9 Dec 2011
    by Personnel Today 9 Dec 2011

    A senior member of staff died in an accident recently and I am uncertain as to how to deal with...

    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Acas launches social media guide for employers

    by Helen Gilbert 1 Sep 2011
    by Helen Gilbert 1 Sep 2011

    Acas has launched a guide in a bid to help employers clamp down on workers’ abuse of social media, which...

    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse
    • Occupational psychology

    Social Media Week: It’s time to for HR to get social

    by Personnel Today 19 Apr 2010
    by Personnel Today 19 Apr 2010

    Something like two-thirds of UK employers ban employees from online social networking at work. To some extent, this action is...

    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Dixons staff insult customers on Facebook

    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2009
    by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2009

    The Dixons Stores Group (DSGi) has launched an investigation into staff caught insulting customers on social networking site Facebook.The unofficial...

    • Employment law
    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Facebook banned by council after staff spent 572 hours networking

    by Kat Baker 1 Sep 2009
    by Kat Baker 1 Sep 2009

    Portsmouth City Council has banned staff from using Facebook during office hours after they clocked up 572 hours – the...

    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Twitter usage at work

    by Jo Wort 28 May 2009
    by Jo Wort 28 May 2009

    The increase in the numbers of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter pose real challenges for employers. The...

    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Twitter usage at work

    by Jo Wort 28 May 2009
    by Jo Wort 28 May 2009

    The increase in the numbers of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter pose real challenges for employers. The...

    • Latest News
    • HR practice
    • Computer misuse

    Twitter not used at work by 90% of staff for fear of getting in trouble

    by Kat Baker 14 May 2009
    by Kat Baker 14 May 2009

    Nine in 10 office workers have claimed they do not use Twitter in the office because they are worried the...

Newer Posts
Older Posts

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+