Websense Employment Internet Management software distributors Lanvision commissioned a report on work related Internet use for individuals who don't have access outside of office hours. The report claims that "cyber-bludging" has become a major problem for Australian businesses, costing the nation approximately AU$312million.
"It adds up. Potentially it can cost Australian businesses a lot of money. Senior management see time as an expensive commodity," Lanvin Director of Sales, Charles Heunemann said.
However, senior analyst for the Internet at IDC Brook Galloway disagrees with these figures saying that it seems to have been blown out of proportion a little bit.
Galloway told ZDNet Australia that "this needs to be balanced out with what people have always done and what they are doing now. Then you see that it's not such a major problem for the vast majority of businesses."
"Most of us are at work everyday from nine to five, some people use the phone to maintain their personal life. People have personal errands to run, for instance, what's the difference between ducking out to the bank as opposed to using the Internet to make a transaction," Galloway said.
Analyst at www.consult, Ian Webster also believes that personal usage of the Internet at work is not seen as a threat to businesses.
"I haven't seen any sign that this has been a problem. Is some ways Internet usage at work is seen by employers as self-education, employers feel it is good to have an Internet-skilled workforce," Webster told ZDNet Australia.
"Free employer provided personal access is the biggest growth area because more employers are giving workers Internet access, this seems to be the trend," he added.
The report found that on average individuals are spending 3.6 hours every week doing personal transactions while on the job such as banking and organising the next holiday, an increase of 70 percent since 1997.
However, in comparison to the findings, General Manager of Global e-commerce at the Commonwealth Bank Stephen Coulter told ZDNet Australia that he believes employees have always done personal errands during business hours.
Furthermore, "using the Internet for things like banking or shopping can sometimes be more productive and efficient than physically getting out of the office to do it," Stephen Coulter said.
