Little OT help: blocking secretary's internet

That is a very good point, and we have tried that on occasion, but because she knows that they are not "critical" deadlines (won't impact business), she just doesn't get it done and then has a dozen excuses. We are very close to firing her, but she has some good skills, if she would use them. She just has serious "internet addiction" issues. I was hoping to remove that as an option and salvage her as an employee for her own good. It may be that her problem is work ethic in general, and she would find something else to waste time on, of course, and we would find that out.

if she has this addiction, but has good skills, what about just adjusting her assignments to ...ween her off of the *need/urge* to get to the internet?

I know, I know - it's hard to have non-computer assignments, but that's probably the only thing I can think of aside from what Dirty Pirate and others listed below.

*maybe* you could make lemonade out of lemons and leverage her internet addition into an asset.

Otherwise, like paintguru said - fire her and explain why...

Best,
Shalin

A "nanny" program that lets some sites work. Good idea, I will look into that.

We don't have a regular IT guy (I am as close as it comes, since I know what Ctrl-Alt-Del can do), but we do have a guy that set up our router (we have just standalone PC's connected to a Linksys router, we are not networked really). I will ask him about this.

As for the non-computer work, almost all of her job is document production (estate planning documents at our law firm), so she is on her computer all day, really, other than when she is filing or joining in a meeting with a client to notarize the documents.

First she's lucky that you are willing to deal with her issues to reach the diamond that's in the rought. My hat is off for your effort. We all have issues.

You could uninstall her browswer and/or delete the EXE file for it. That would leave the network intact and email but kill browsing. OR if she's not tech savvy just point the IE link to "nothing" so it doesn't work but all those stupid windows IE interoprational fuctnions still work. You could also remove HTML file associations so a link doesn't bring it up.

You could remove her work station from the network. Her email and network activities are on another computer by someone who will know to monitor her activies. Hard to surf when you are sitting next to yorr boss to check emails.

The nanny programs would also work. If it's possible you can disable the network card from 8:30-4:30 leaving a half an hour on each end of the day for internet use. You can figure out your own working schedule. Heck you could just unplug the network cable.

If she's wireless you could use a guest function that's only on at certain times (another employee may have to turn it off and on...) for the to acces the net and network.

The Internet is a network connection that's differenet than your standard network...I'm sure that is some angle that could let you sever the one while maintaining the other but that's beyond my skill.

before the nanny software, etc. - it might be more productive to turn her internet browsing habits in to research assistance for your law firm ...may be a long shot, but ultimately a more harmonious fit. I remember that I would've more productive if my job would have been altered to play off my strengths...otherwise, all the other idea are lookin' good too...

That's the area where you'll define which PC's (by IP address) may or may not access specific services (web, email, ftp, etc)

Sounds to me like you need to deny access to http & https during work hours.

I kind of like the idea of simply "crippling" her icon. She is not savvy enough to get to the internet other than by simply clicking the little red fox! )

I agree with Dirty Pirate. As i don't know much about networking but this is something really useful.
Also i would like to add that assigning her some projects with dead line will also help.