How can I word a memo to employees about improper use of the computer and internet during regular hours?

I was asked to write a memo to employees regarding improper use of their computers and the internet during office hours. Basically, a few employees who need access to the internet for their jobs are spending too much time surfing other websites instead of what they should be looking up. Also, some employees are using Instant Messenger during office hours (we allowed it to be installed originally for inter-office usage) to speak to family and friends. It's certainly not a problem to remove the program, which will most likely be the course of action.





I'm wondering how I would word a memo to the staff telling them that some of their privileges are to be revoked? Should I be stern or light in my message? I'm rather new to my position as the only network administrator in the office, and I don't normally deal with staff issues such as this.|||kind of like you are doing now?|||It has come to the attention of management that there is an unacceptable amount of personal use of the Internet and IM via the company computers. While management acknowledges that some person use is a benefit to employee production, excessive use is a waste of company resources and time. As network administrator I must remind you that information from the company computers is not private and that the use of the Internet can and will be monitored if this trend continues.





Oh Sh*t - you mean they can read my e-mail!|||Be firm. It has already been legally established that hardware and software belong to the company, not to the employees who use them, and they do not have a right to privacy if they're using company assets for personal use. Tell them they will receive a verbal warning if they're caught, then a written warning in their personnel file, and the third time they're caught will be grounds for termination. (Or whatever your company's policy is.) You can also tell them their keystrokes are being monitored. Good luck!!|||I would phrase it in a positive way. "The bosses wanted me to remind you that computers should be used for work-related activities only during work hours. At this time, you are free to use the internet and instant messenger before and after your shift or during lunch, but if the personal usage continues as it is now, the bosses will ask me to block all but a few websites that are required for work."|||are you at work now? you shouldn;t be on yahoo|||As a manager in the business world for over 30-years. I think that you should be straight forward and simply tell them that due to the unauthorized use of the Internet by some, the privileges of all will be revoked.





Install a tracking program so you can see where each employee is going on the net and monitor it daily. This way you can address those that are abusing your system.