Beware the risks of shopping on your office PC
If your busy work schedule has you shopping for the holidays right on your office computer, you’re not alone.
“Workshoppers” are employees who buy online using workplace devices – and they’re a growing breed, according to a study by staffing firm Robert Half Technology.
In fact, more than two in five workers in Canada intend to go shopping online this holiday season right from their office.
Almost half (48%) of employees plan to do it at least once a week. Nearly a third (28%) hope to do it a few times a week while a fifth (19%) plan to limit it only to Cyber Monday.
A minority 5%, however, are ready to shop at work almost every day “until I finish my list,” they said.
Despite the enthusiasm of workshoppers, most IT departments frown upon the practice of shopping online or visiting sites unrelated to work on corporate devices during business hours.
Only 10% of offices surveyed allow for unrestricted access to these sites. The majority (69%) tolerate it to a certain degree but begin monitoring for excessive use. But one in five employers block access completely, the study revealed.
Over a third are concerned about lost productivity, but more employers (61%) cite the security risks posed by surfing on unsecure sites as the top reason for regulating workshopping.
