[HairOfTheDog]

It is real simple, employees should not use company computers for checking their email.

I have never worked for a company that did not allow a bit of personal business - checking in with family, making phone calls that can't be made after hours, life business - to be done during the work day. There is rarely a zero-tolerance on such things, and if there isn't a zero tolerance policy, an employer would be best to not eavesdrop with things such as keystroke trackers.

If the usage of the computer for other-than-business gets out of hand, it will show up in other ways. The affect on morale of feeling that big brother is watching and listening, is worse than a few emails.

[longtermmemmory]

As I said, it depends. It really is a matter when the employee's time is being billed to an account/client. No client is going to pay for personal business. Besides that is what lunchhours and coffee/cigarette breaks are for. (everyone gets a cigarette break, even if you don't smoke in my policy. Also my birthday is a paid holiday.)