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Personal Use of Technology at Work

A friend at your workplace who sits near you uses her computer for personal reasons several
times throughout the day when she should be working. You have observed her updating her
Facebook page, watching YouTube videos, shopping online, and looking at online travel
websites. One time at lunch you casually mentioned that you noticed she uses the Web a lot for
personal reasons, and she told you she prefers the high-speed access at work over her home
setup.

Submit answers to the discussion questions below in a Word document (1.5" spacing, 12pt.
Times New Roman font): 

1. How should you handle this situation? Should you ignore the situation since you are not her
manager? If you answer yes, would your answer be different if the employee was not your
friend?

I would notify my friend that I have observed her using the workplace computer for

personal reasons several times throughout the day and remind her that there are situations

where people are fired using company time for personal use, especially if company policies

were given at Orientation. I would try to remind her to review the policies. No, my answer

would not be different because I have to be a human being first and want to be a team player

in the job.

2. In what instances, if any, is it okay to use employer equipment for personal use?

It is never okay to use employer equipment for personal use.

3. How could you convince (or should you even try to) your friend to stop using the employer's
computer for personal use?

I am aware that while operating on company time, it is the employee’s personal

responsibility to perform only the duties of the job. Therefore, I would try as best as I
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can by directing her to the company’s policies since such actions are grounds for immediate

termination.

4. How should management deal with employees' use of company provided technology for
personal reasons? Search the Internet for 2 articles on this topic. Discuss your search results
using MLA citations.

Companies should create a Computer Usage Policy for employees’ use of company provided
technology for personal reasons and also provide employees with Cybersecurity Awareness
Training.

MLA Works Cited

1) Strickland, Dale. “How to Manage Personal Use of the Internet in the Workplace.” Business 2
Community, 1 July 2022, https://www.business2community.com/workplace-culture/how-to-
manage-personal-use-of-the-internet-in-the-workplace-02393467#best-practices.

2) Nelson, Nikki. “Policies for Employee Personal Use of Business Equipment.” Back to Top, 1 Feb.
2020, https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/policies-for-employee-personal-use-of-
business-equipment.