Workplace internet restricted for most Irish office workers

More than 60% of those who can go online at work have restrictions to certain websites including social networking sites, entertainment sites, webmail and online shopping sites, a new survey has found.

Eircom today published results of a survey on internet usage in the workplace, which found that nearly two thirds of all working adults have internet access at work.

The survey found that 78% of all workers use the internet for personal use at work.

Eighteen-34 year olds spend the longest time on the internet at work, clocking up more than an hour a day, including 36 minutes during their lunch break and 27 minutes throughout their working day.

The 35-44 year old category spend more 40 minutes a day (27 minutes during their lunch break and 15 minutes throughout their working day).

Workers who are 45 or older also spend more than 40 minutes a day (21 minutes on their lunch break and 22 minutes through their working day).

Overall, men spend longer surfing the internet during their working day with women surfing more during their lunch break or after work.

The research conducted by Red C on behalf of eircom concluded that 47% of workers who have internet access at work are blocked from social networking sites such as Bebo, MySpace and Facebook.

It was found that 43% cannot access YouTube and other entertainment sites, 32% have no access to webmail and 26% cannot shop online on portals such as Amazon, eBay or Ryanair.

According to another recent industry report, these sites are also the most popular websites for 22-29 year olds.

More than half of workers feel their internet usage is monitored at work. Most felt they were monitored by software programmes (37%), followed by the boss (27%) and finally work colleagues (13%).

Commenting on the survey results, Debbie Byrne, eircom's marketing director for the consumer market, said: "With over 60% of adults having restricted access to the Internet in the workplace, broadband users simply don’t have the freedom or the time to surf the internet and engage in the online activities they’re interested in while at work.