Employees need to be productive and should not get distracted. Distractions are everywhere in the workplace, especially from the internet. Employees waste significant time surfing the internet, which hinders productivity at the workplace.
The distractions from the internet can make an employee lose focus on the work. So, to avoid this, employers need to adopt some strict measures. And one of them is blocking distracting websites. This article looks at why you should consider blocking distracting websites in your organization.
Type of websites to block at the workplace
The workplace is one of the most common places for people to browse sites that are not work-related. This can be a problem because it can distract employees and decrease productivity. There are some websites that you need to block on your network to ensure a productive environment.
The following list is a good starting point for determining which sites should be blocked on Windows and other devices:
- Sites that encourage procrastination
- Sites that encourage browsing instead of work
- Sites that provide entertainment or social media
- Sites that provide access to games or videos
- Sites that provide access to sexually explicit content
- Sites that provide access to social media platforms
Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube should all remain blocked. These sites can distract your employees from your work and waste their time. Other websites you should restrict include games, shopping, and gambling sites. You may also want to look at Content & Privacy preferences on Mac when you block websites on that system.
Can employee productivity increase by blocking websites?
Yes, it can. We have seen this happen time and time again. If you are looking for ways to increase employee productivity, blocking certain websites is a great way to do it. When employees have access to their social media accounts, they spend more time on them than they actually do working.
Your employees may waste valuable time surfing the web and not doing anything productive for your company. By blocking social media websites and other distractions, you can ensure that your employees remain focused solely on work tasks and nothing else. If you have made your mind, a guide on how to block Facebook for your employees will help you.
However, even this strategy has its limits. The more you restrict employees’ access, the more likely they will find ways around it and possibly even resent you. Instead of limiting what your employees can do on the job, consider offering tools that help them do their jobs better.
Should organizations restrict internet access?
First and foremost, there’s no reason to restrict employees’ internet access unless necessary. For example, you may work in a field that requires a level of security clearance or related training. In this case, you can take steps to ensure your employees operate within those parameters. But otherwise? Not necessary.
In fact, restricting internet access can actually be harmful to an organization. For example, you may block employees’ internet usage at all times except during certain hours of the day. You are effectively telling them that they can only do their jobs during those hours—and you’ve just created a problem by limiting their productivity.
Bottom line
The best way to keep your organization running successfully is to give employees the freedom to do their jobs well and maintain good relationships with clients and customers. The last thing you want is for someone who works at your company to feel like they have no control over their work environment or situation. It will lead them down paths they shouldn’t go on—and it could cost your company money in the long run.
