Just What is "Cyber Monday"?

All of a sudden, we have started hearing about "Cyber Monday". Reportedly, the Monday after US Thanksgiving is becoming the busiest online shopping day of the year according to trade association shop.org.

Business Week, however, notes that it is only the 11th busiest shopping day of the year. Nielsen/NetRatings reported traffic to online shopping sites increased 29 percent year-over-year, but on Friday not Monday. Similarly, Yahoo! Shopping saw a 52% increase, also on Friday.

Whether Cyber Monday is a legitimate phenomenon, or just marketing hype from the online retailer association, it does pose a policy question for managers. Many speculate that the increase in online shopping at this time of the year may be due, at least in part, to shoppers using work computers for their online shopping because they are faster, more secure, or both.

There are several possible reactions to this trend. You can:

1. Forbid employees to use company computers to shop online at any time,
2. Restrict use of the company computers for online shopping to the employees' breaks and lunch period,
3. Rationalize that employees will be more productive if they can do their shopping online instead of running around on their lunch break,
4. Decide your employees will be happier if they work for a company that lets them handle personal business at the office, or
5. Write and publish a policy in your employee manual that clearly spells out how and when company computers can be used for personal business, including online shopping.

Personally, I prefer the last option.