Shop ’till you drop … on your own time
Many Canadians are forgoing busy shopping malls this holiday season, opting instead to purchase gifts online. However, for many Canadian workers, it will be harder to browse for bargains at the office. The majority (57 per cent) of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed by Robert Half Technology said their companies block access to online shopping sites – up from 40 per cent last year. Another 30 per cent said they allow access but monitor activity for excessive use. The CIOs whose firms allow online shopping said they expect employees to spend two hours per week, on average, surfing for deals this holiday season.
CIOs were asked, “What is your company’s policy regarding employees shopping online while at work?” Their responses:
2010 2011
Block access to online shopping sites 40% 57%
Allow access but monitor for excessive use 28% 30%
Allow unrestricted access 26% 12%
Other/don’t know 7% 1%
————-
Total 101%* 100%
*Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.
“While some companies look the other way when employees browse retail sites in moderation, many are restricting this access altogether,” said Lara Dodo, a Canadian regional vice-president of Robert Half Technology. “This may prompt some employees to shop on their mobile devices while at the office. Workers should use their sound judgment when spending time on non-related business activities, as excessive use can be seen as a red flag for employers.”
Robert Half Technology offers four tips to help professionals avoid getting on their company’s “naughty list” this holiday season:
1. Play by the rules. If your employer allows online shopping at work, know your company’s policy, including sites or hours to avoid, before searching for deals.
2. Buy rather than browse. A liberal computer use policy is no excuse to spend the day filling your shopping cart. If your company allows occasional online buying, limit your activity to quick transactions.
3. Don’t get stuck on your Smartphone. Mobile devices can make it easy to get around a strict online shopping policy, but always put work first.
4. Exercise caution. Any offer that looks too good to be true probably is. Avoid links or sites that could infect your company’s network with phishing attacks or viruses.
The surveys were developed by staffing firm Robert Half Technology. They were conducted by an independent research firm and are based on telephone interviews with more than 270 CIOs from companies across Canada with 100 or more employees.
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