Before the computer was introduced to the workplace the employer had to keep a steady eye on his employees to make sure there was no horseplay going on. However, with the 21st century upon us, the computer has become an essential tool for the office. It is used to create, edit, read, and transfer documents that could someday make a company billions of dollars. However, to the employee not focused on doing his work, it has become a tool to escape the boredom and tediousness of “work.”

Why does an employer need to be aware that this will happen if he has employees on work computers? They should be aware because it is costing businesses, worldwide, billions upon billions of dollars. This isn’t happening on an employee’s personal computer while they are off the clock either. An employee may be using one-fourth of his hours during the work week chatting with instant messaging programs, surfing inappropriate content, or downloading files that can harm not only the company’s computer, but their whole system, as well.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of solutions to the problem the computer has brought to the workplace. Special software, like internet filtering software, can help deter an employee from visiting websites considered to be inappropriate for the type of work they are doing. Internet filtering software can constantly be modified to pick up new keywords that will block websites that shouldn’t be viewed in that office. Another type of software can log anything that happens on a computer, or block specific software applications that shouldn’t be downloaded or opened. Business assets can be protected by not allowing the use of personal email, and any emails sent with through the businesses email can be tracked and read. Key-logging software can keep track of every, single keystroke that happens on an employee’s keyboard.

All these types of software are essential for an employer in his office, because it could save a business millions of dollars a year on lost worker efficiency.