If you do this without a WRITTEN policy and WRITTEN authorization, you are asking for a world of trouble. True, it is the office's network and systems. However, somebody gets pissed and finds a good lawyer, and you are unemployable for a long while.
The way my work-place is thinking about handling it is that when a user account is created, the user is given a piece of paper that says something to the effect that "I realize that the computer and computer systems of my place of work are the property of my employer. As such, I agree that my activities on the network and in email, etc, may be monitored for ANY purpose." Then make the user sign this piece of paper. That way, your ass is covered.
In addition, HR should not be the people being concerned about this. If productivity is down, this is not a good way to handle it. If such a search is going to be started, it should started after proof of porn wasting time is brought to the head of the IS department (you or your supervisor I assume).
Yes, you do have to pay sales tax if the site you purchase from is in your own state. However, it is unconstitutional for Congress to pass a law levying a tax on inter-state trade. It is laid out that the Federal government can not do ANYTHING to regulate inter-state trade. Whether or not this would hold up, I am not sure, I'm not a lawyer. However, from the way I understand it, Congress "shouldn't" be able to levy this tax.
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If you do this without a WRITTEN policy and WRITTEN authorization, you are asking for a world of trouble. True, it is the office's network and systems. However, somebody gets pissed and finds a good lawyer, and you are unemployable for a long while.
The way my work-place is thinking about handling it is that when a user account is created, the user is given a piece of paper that says something to the effect that "I realize that the computer and computer systems of my place of work are the property of my employer. As such, I agree that my activities on the network and in email, etc, may be monitored for ANY purpose." Then make the user sign this piece of paper. That way, your ass is covered.
In addition, HR should not be the people being concerned about this. If productivity is down, this is not a good way to handle it. If such a search is going to be started, it should started after proof of porn wasting time is brought to the head of the IS department (you or your supervisor I assume).
Just a few thoughts.
Yes, you do have to pay sales tax if the site you purchase from is in your own state. However, it is unconstitutional for Congress to pass a law levying a tax on inter-state trade. It is laid out that the Federal government can not do ANYTHING to regulate inter-state trade. Whether or not this would hold up, I am not sure, I'm not a lawyer. However, from the way I understand it, Congress "shouldn't" be able to levy this tax.
Just a thought - anyone know for sure?
"Life is too short to take seriously"