Internet Usage Policy
Common questions and answers your company will face as employees use the internet.
Every organization has an internet usage policy and every one is different than the other; however, all internet usage policies have the same frequently asked questions. Below you'll find common questions users ask when the review your internet usage policy. Including similar questions will help your organization avoid unnecessary questions about your internet policy.
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Internet Usage Policy - Termination Question
E-mail policy violated: Was termination legal?
Based on Pidd v. Berquist Company, 8/5/02.
How dare you?" said Ron Harrison, his face red with anger. "You read my personal e-mail?"
Supervisor Will Bane refused to allow Harry to deflect the blame. "That's not the point," said Jill! "You had no business sending pornographic cartoons to co-workers on work time. And legally, your e-mail at work isn't really personal.
This time, Harry's face was red from sheer embarrassment. "All right, I'll admit forwarding it was a bad decision. But it's not all my fault - a friend outside the company downloaded it and e-mailed it to me. It's not like I went searching for it myself." "Doesn't matter," said Justin. "I know you know that behavior isn't allowed. We still have the form you signed saying you fully understand our Internet and e-mail policy. It specifically says we don't approve of employees doing non-related activities like playing computer games, downloading pornography or sending harassing e-mails."
Internet Usage Policy, Technicalities
"But wait just a minute, you said it yourself - we're not allowed to download pornographic emails. I didn't. As for sexual harassment - well none of the co-workers I sent the cartoon to have complained as far as I know. Legally, someone has to be offended for there to be sexual harassment, right?"
"Let's not play word games," said Justin angrily. "You knew that what you were doing was wrong and you knew it would lead to your termination."
Harry sued the company for wrongful termination, saying technically he hadn't broken company rules. Did the company win?
Yes. The company won.
Harry tried to get around the language in the company's Internet and e-mail policy by having a friend download pornographic cartoons for him then e-mail them to him at work.
Harry thought he had skirted the firm's internet usage policy because he didn't download the cartoons himself, and because his co-workers didn't complain when he forwarded copies to them.
But a judge said that while the company's Internet and e-mail policy specifically referred to downloading pornography as misconduct, the policy also implied that misusing company equipment for similar purposes wouldn't be tolerated either. In the end, the "spirit" of the company's policy, was more important than Harry's word-games.
Based on Pidd v. Berquist Company, 8/5/02.
Usage Policy - Email Forwarding Question
I'm concerned about the section that covers email forwarding. Can I send a non-work related email to my private home account?
Answer: The section you refer to prohibits automated email forwarding without prior approval. Non-work related messages, such as medical appointments, can be sent to your home account.
Internet Policy - Other Account Qustions
The policy states that using another's account or representing another user is prohibited. That you may be held responsible for any abuse if you knowingly let someone use your account. Does that include a supervisor requesting you log on to a computer in your name so that the supervisor can use the computer under your name and password to conduct county business?
Answer: A supervisor can make this request. You may log the date, time and reason for this request. In most cases, the supervisor will have a floating account for times when the employee is not available.
Computer Access Policy - question
Who is a designated representative that has the right to enter my computer system to access and review information based on the internet usage policy?
Answer: Your immediate supervisor or above may enter your computer to access information. The computer system and all information contained within is the property of the County of JUIM.
Web Policy - Junk Mail Question
What is Junk Mail
Answer: Junk mail can have some or all of the following characteristics.
- It is unsolicited.
- It is from a someone you do not know.
- It contains any form of advertising.
- It contains offensive material.
Ponzi - Policy - Question
What is a "Ponzi"? I understand chain letters and pyramids which are similar, but not the same thing.
Answer: A type of pyramid scheme named after Carlo "Charles" Ponzi. Ponzi was born in Parma, Italy 1882 and then immigrated to the United States in November of 1903.
Network Monitoring - Policy - Question
What is network monitoring?
Answer: Watching the packets of information that cross the County of JUIM network wires. This type of activity is intentional and designed to reveal the underlying structure of the network and expose any potential weaknesses.
Port Scanning - Policy - Question
What is port scanning or security scanning?
Answer: Port scanning or security scanning in the context of this policy is the intentional act of looking for network vulnerabilities. Again, this is not something that you would do by accident.
Sniffing - Policy - Question
How would we know if we are network sniffing, pinged floods, packet spoofing, etc?
Answer: These are activities designed to monitor data or disrupt network traffic. It's not something that is unintentional and would require effort and knowledge on the part of the user. If you're doing it, you would be fully aware of it.
Internet Usage Policy Questions
If you have more internet usage policy FAQ's, please let us know and we'll be happy to post them.