The vast majority of sackings for internet misuse are due to workers surfing pornographic websites, a new British survey shows.
A quarter of UK companies have dismissed employees for internet misconduct, with 69 per cent of those sackings associated with online pornography, the study claims.
Figures show 72 per cent of firms have dealt with the issue of internet misuse, with web chat rooms and personal emailing second and third respectively in the list of most frequent complaints.
The research shows 40 per cent of all complaints originate from co-workers.
Researchers found 56 per cent of managers prefer to deal with these complaints by having a "quiet word" with workers, while 29 per cent prefer using verbal warnings.
The study - carried out for magazine Personnel Todayand management consultants Websense - interviewed 544 human resources managers and officers from companies employing an average of 2,500 people.
Mr Jonathan Naylor, a barrister in the employment, pensions and benefits division of law firm Morgan Cole said: "Dismissing an employee for internet misuse is a substantial cost to the employer."
"While there are the obvious costs of advertising for new hires, recruitment, training and supervision, there are also additional financial burdens caused by the interruption to work patterns, the damage to morale and the negative publicity to the organisation as a result of the dismissal."
PA