Problem of a reader:


“All I do at work every day is surf the web.  Whilst my knowledge of fashion bloggers is now second to none (the Blondesalad anyone), I am worried that should my firm implement the mysterious “internet policy”, which is referred to in our employment contracts, and check my browsing history they have more than enough ammo to to give me the bullet.”  


There must be a room in every law firm with a printer spewing out pages of website history into a massive industrial wheelie bin. Every 6 months they heave it out to the mobile shredder.  The volume of websites visited in any sizeable law firm must be massive (as must the number of ASOS packages arriving).

"And these are the records from the litigation team"

However, the reality is they will only ever go down to the basement to get the record of “websites in contravention of our internet usage policy” when they want to get rid of you and by then you’re on the way out anyway.  In order to even think about what you have been looking at online they already have your name marked for the black spot and it’s just a matter of time.  In a world where you can make the front page of the national papers for physical abuse, odiousness and even for leaking misguided email *bantzzz* about sex acts (which any reasonable and decent human being would expect to be keep private) and not get fired, I think the website history is the last thing that will sink you.  

"Here are the trainees delivering the websites from week 23/52"

You’re more likely to fall out of favour as a result of topping the partner’s story at an office drinks than anything related to internet (or indeed work generally).


Therefore so long as it isn’t NSFW then you may be safe to surf the web at work for another 20 years.  If you can stand it.
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Comments

Anonymous 26 April 17 22:34

I'd think that doing nothing at work except surfing the internet might constitute grounds for dismissal...

Anonymous 25 April 17 16:36

Agree they will check; Disagree that its only when you are on the way out. May be used as a trumped up cause for dismissal. Not even going to mention GDPR implications!