THERE ARE usually quite a few similarities between the operations of American companies and companies in Jamaica, and if the results of a recent survey by the American Management Association are anything to go by, employees with access to the Internet at their workplace should be seeking to ensure that the better part of their email and Internet activities are specifically related to the job at hand.
According to the poll, 62 per cent of companies actively monitored and reviewed the websites that all their employees visited, while another 14 per cent monitored the web-surfing activities of individuals in certain job categories only. Twenty-four per cent did not monitor their employees' web usage at all.
In terms of company email, just over one-third of the companies surveyed reported that they stored and reviewed employees' email, while 17 per cent monitored some mails. Interestingly also, about 25 per cent have actually fired employees for 'inappropriate' use of the Internet, and about the same percentage have done so because of the misuse of email. You've been warned, so keep it clean and keep it relevant!
WEBSITES OF THE WEEK
My quest this week was to find two of the best-looking Jamaica Government websites on the Internet. A seemingly simple task on paper, but it turned out to be quite interesting, given that a significant number of the govern-ment's websites look as though they were created by a child using crayons and markers. From a purely aesthetic perspective, these Government sites were at the top of the list:
http://www.visitjamaica.com The Jamaica Tourist Board's official website is a complete travel guide, offering details about upcoming events across the island, places to see and general information about the country and its people. With a hefty US$592,000 price tag for the development of this website (2002/2003), it's a good model for other government departments and agencies to follow in terms of the 'look', but definitely not in terms of the price.
http://www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm The government's Inland Revenue tax payment portal was launched in December 2004, and offers taxpayers the option of paying certain taxes and fees directly online, rather than 'standing in line'. If you have tried this new service and would like to share your experience, please send us an email
feedback@jamaica-gleaner.com.
EMAIL HOAXES
No, Microsoft and AOL are not giving away $800, and there is no 'it takes guts to say Jesus' or 'Budweiser frogs' virus. Don't get tricked by the numerous Internet hoaxes and urban legends that circulate daily via email. Here are two of the more reputable sources for debunking many of these Internet myths
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html and http://urbanlegends.about.com/
Taken from The Daily Gleaner, Wednesday May 25, 2005
