We just ran across an issue that, I believe, could become a significant source of friction between management and Generation Y (Millennial’s) employees: Using an employer’s electronic equipment for personal business. When an employer provides a laptop, work station, iPhone, BlackBerry, anything with internet access, or communications ability, are employees at risk for losing their jobs for using these resources for non-work activities? Is listening to music on a company computer a misuse of company property? What about checking out Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn sites? How about streaming a movie from NetFlix, texting, Tweeting, IMing during work? Is it o.k. to check personal email on a company supplied device? What if people use a company email address for personal communications? “I’ll bring home a quart of milk and some Twinkies.” Where is the line drawn on “personal” use? Plus, in many Silicon Valley firms the concept of work time and life time is very blurred. If an employer has day care, dry cleaning, volleyball, and massages, is viewing a Facebook page a misuse of company assets? Most Gen X and Y people see these uses as perfectly acceptable, and, if fact, essential elements of their work day.
Pretty much anyone born after 1980 views electronic devices like I view a toaster – - as an appliance, not a precious resource. A new Mr. Coffee is a computing device, and no one gets fired by using it to make a cup of coffee, right? In this always connected world, isn’t keeping in touch with your e-world almost a civil right? I have a son who texts with his girlfriend when they are in the same room! Of course, she’s working on her masters thesis, downloading music, making a sandwich, and he’s checking emails and watching a football game, all at the same time. It’s called multi-tasking. I don’t know how they do it, but it works for them, and for the 60 million other Millennial’s out there. Throw in the Gen Xers and there are close to 80 million people who grew up around computers and mass communications devices. Those iPhones and iPods are an integral part of who they are. And internet usage, they feel entitled to it. Their work experience from age five through twenty-one (school time) was all about multi-tasking and communicating. They did their homework at a computer, listening to music and talking on a cell phone. This is a normal work mode for this group of workers. Their parents didn’t (or couldn’t) change this behavior; their schools reinforced it with a “whatever works” attitude. It has worked well for them. They stay connected to more people than earlier generations did. They use technology well. Can do several tasks at the same time. So: “What’s the big deal? I’m getting my work done on time and correctly.”
I know there is a problem brewing between management and Gen X and Y employees around this issue. I recently learned about a CPA who was fired for using the employer’s internet access to check out Facebook postings, streaming videos from Netflix, and view Craigslist postings during “company time”. The company doesn’t have a computer usage policy, and didn’t discuss improper usage during new employee training or orientation. The CPA’s former employer had no problem with this type of activity. And, there were no job performance issues found in this situation. The employee did the job, on time, on budget, and the work was acceptable. In this young employee’s mind, there shouldn’t have been a problem. The employer saw this as a gross violation of workplace rules. I think it’s a shame; the employee is out of a job, the employer needs a new employee, and it could/should have been handled better. I see “a failure to communicate” here.
What do you think about this issue? Haven’t some of the “rules” changed?