Increasing Employee Productivity through Measuring and Monitoring

The Internet is a double-edged sword.  There are so many things you can accomplish through the Internet nowadays. It is unthinkable not to empower your employees with Internet access. But on the other hand, you’re concerned that your employees are wasting time online during work hours. You are not alone!  There are studies showing that up to 56% of the time employees spend on the Internet are not work related. There is even a term called “cyberloafing,” which is used to describe the actions of employees who use their Internet access at work for personal use while pretending to do legitimate work-related tasks.

You are frustrated and considering computer monitor software as a means of addressing the problem. While your motivation is understandable, you should know that computer tracking software only provides a partial answer to your problem.

Get the Most from Your Internet Blocking Solution

There’s no doubt about it – wasting time on the Internet during work hours is becoming more and more of a problem for employers throughout the U.S. and around the world. That’s why countless businesses have turned to software and hardware solutions that work as an Internet block, in an effort to prevent employees from visiting nonproductive websites while they’re working. This has proved to be a valuable tool for many employers, but this is a passive solution to prevent employees from wasting time with one outlet only. It still may not be enough to increase employee productivity. In recent years, Internet block solutions have become less effective thanks to the latest smart phone and tablet PC technology.

Why Employee Monitoring Alone Just Doesn’t “Measure Up”

Unlimited Internet access can tempt even the hardest-working employee. If your workers’ productivity is suffering because they’re spending too much time doing personal business on the Internet, it can hurt your business. One option that some employers have tried is to monitor employee Internet usage.  Chances are you don’t want your highly trained IT professional acting as an Internet usage monitor, and some types of employee monitoring software – often referred to as “spyware” – are considered to be too much of an invasion of employee privacy. Still, using software that will monitor employee Internet usage can be an effective tool, particularly in extreme cases where Internet abuse and/or illegal Web-based activities are a possibility.

 
These days, it’s a rare company that doesn’t have some employees who telecommute. Yet for all the benefits of telecommuting, there are some pitfalls as well. The following nine tools will help any company maximize and realize the promise of efficient telecommuting.

1.  Terminal Server (Remote Desktop)

 
1. What are employee perks?
 
When you look up the word “perk” in a dictionary it is defined as “to stick up or jut out.” In a sense, that is exactly what perks are supposed to do for a company. Employee perks are meant to reward employees as a way to provide extra benefits along with the general ones they typically receive (i.e. 401k, dental, medical). Perks provide value to the company and their employees as a way to a) retain top talent and b) increase productivity.
 
2. How can perks improve the work environment?