Hollister
– County employees are learning this month that big brother is
watching, at least when it comes to their computers.
Earlier this month the Board of Supervisors approved a
comprehensive electronic communications usage policy that clearly
defines how county computers shouldn’t be used. Supervisors said
the policy was long overdue, especially considering that the city
of Hollister implemented a similar policy four years ago and
private business has had written policies for far longer.
Hollister – County employees are learning this month that big brother is watching, at least when it comes to their computers.
Earlier this month the Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive electronic communications usage policy that clearly defines how county computers shouldn’t be used. Supervisors said the policy was long overdue, especially considering that the city of Hollister implemented a similar policy four years ago and private business has had written policies for far longer.
The policy prohibits employees from using county computers to conduct personal business and accessing pornographic or gambling web sites. It further directs department heads to ensure that the guidelines of the policy are followed. Workers who fail to adhere to the guidelines can lose their computer privileges or be subject to “other disciplinary actions,” including termination, said Jacki Credico, a management analyst with the county.
“We never had guidelines before,” she said. “So now we are going around to the different departments and letting all the employees know.”
Employee training on the new policy started last week, Credico said.
“We aren’t out to get anyone,” she said. “We’re trying to increase productivity. This is really performanced based.”
Supervisor Reb Monaco said the policy was long-needed.
“I think we may have been behind the times in terms of public agencies,” he said. “But this wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction. It makes good sense.”
Although many department heads have developed their own computer procedures, Monaco said the county needed a formal, written policy.
County Clerk John Hodges said he hasn’t had any problems with e-mails or the Internet in his department, but said he thought the policy was a good idea.
“You have to have controls,” he said. “It keeps everything on the uppity-up.”
Hodges said monitoring his employees would be easy since they don’t have enough time to send personal e-mails or explore the World Wide Web.
“They haven’t got the time to go surfing,” he said. “If they did have time for that kind of stuff, I wouldn’t be managing my office very well.”
Supervisor Pat Loe said the county was trying to keep pace with other public agencies and private businesses.
“If things can be abused, there needs to be policies in place to prevent that,” she said.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho agreed.
“It’s common practice,” he said. “We want to make sure our employees use this technology the way it is supposed to be used.”
