Can You Be Fired For Internet Use At Work?

Yes. Employers are rightfully concerned about their liability for sexual harassment and have fired workers for visiting sexually explicit and/or pornographic websites at work. They also worry about the loss of productivity caused by Internet surfing during productive work hours, and have terminated employees for using the Internet for non-work related activities such as online shopping, sports sites and even gambling. As it is possible -- and even more likely in many workplaces -- that your online activity is being monitored, be sure you research and know what your employer's monitoring policies are before taking part in activity during work time that is not work-related. You should not visit any websites that you would not want your employer to see or that your co-workers might find offensive. While most employers do not mind if your personal Internet use is occasional and doesn't interfere with your work, some employers do mind, and expect you to confine your personal Internet usage to non-work hours.