Council blamed for eBay sackings

Three eBay addicts working for Neath Port Talbot council in Wales have left their jobs.

One of the three was sacked, and two others resigned after it was found that they had been spending as much as two hours a day on the popular online auction site.

However, one security firm says the council should take the blame for not restricting access to the site and setting out clear policies for employess concerning internet use.

"It is essential that employees are not allowed to run wild and spend as much time as they like on whatever happens to be their favourite site," said Carole Theriault, senior security consultant at Sophos.

"When staff start to do this, firms must nip the problem in the bud before it can escalate into the kind of situation Neath Port Talbot council is currently experiencing. It's simple to block access to non-essential websites, and certainly a lot less embarrassing than having to sack or discipline staff," Theriault continued.

Last month, the Trades Union Congress called on employers to consult with employees about policy on using the web at work, in particular social-networking sites.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "It’s unreasonable for employers to try to stop their staff from having a life outside work just because they can't get their heads around the technology.

"Better to invest a little time in working out sensible conduct guidelines so that there doesn't need to be any nasty surprises," continued Barber.

www.sophos.com

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