Tips to block websites to improve employee productivity

As an employer, a lot of times, you might want to block out some websites from your employees. Of course, it is an excellent way to increase productivity. So, how do you do it? Every browser has a distinct mechanism of blocking the website. However, these aren’t a part of their regular installation. To ensure that your employees aren’t wasting any time in the work hours, you can buy a monitoring software. It will capture all the moves of your employees while they are at the system. However, if productivity is the issue, it is best to block out the sites that you think your employees shouldn’t be using while at work. Please understand that before you take any such measure, you should know that it will have its share of consequences.

A lot of businesses are of the view that blocking websites isn’t the best thing to do. Mark, who works with a platform where you can pay someone to do my homework, says that the quickest way to demotivate employees is by not trusting them enough. When you restrict access, it makes you look like a micromanager. Further, it will have a negative impact on employee satisfaction in your company. Blocking out every website that is not related to work is counter-productive. Let’s just accept that employees will switch to a few non-work-related sites whenever they feel like slacking off at work. Also, if they spend an odd minute or two on these sites, these breaks can be refreshing for their mind. 

Gigi, who works with a website that offers long tail pro coupon code online, says that there are a few websites where blocking becomes necessary. As far as the security of your data is concerned, these sites can bring in a bigger risk to security. It has been noted that most of these sites are aligned to the non-work activity, such as politics, gambling, porn, etc. 

A lot of entrepreneurs take a step in blocking certain websites to ensure that productivity is maintained, and the employees do not access any inappropriate website in the work hours. So, if you, too, plan on blocking some sites, here are some tips to follow: 

First – Always be transparent with your staff

Steve, who offers online assignment help Perth, says that if you decided to restrict a few sites, it is best to be vocal about it to your employees. Tell them about the sites you are blocking and give them an honest reason. Believe me, when you are transparent about this, your staff will be appreciative of this honesty. Further, do ensure that this information is included in your internet use policy. So, you can set a protocol associated with the access of these websites that have been blocked. Further, issue a warning that if anyone tries to access these websites from the office system, it would be considered as a violation of the company policy.  

Laila, who works with a platform where you can pay for essay writing services online, says that if you plan on blocking the social media sites, it is better that you don’t. So, instead of blocking, you can rather issue a policy for social media websites. It will give your employees some flexibility, and you can step in only if there’s some problem. 

Second – Browser extensions

Brian, who offers the best SEO course online, says that the most effective and the easiest way to block a category of the website or a single site on browsers like Firefox or Chrome is by using an extension called BlockSite. It is a useful extension that lets you block out some sites, such as social media websites or adult websites with just a click of the button. The best thing about BlockSite is that it works on the Incognito mode too. However, if you are scared that your employees can access the sites that are blocked by BlockSite, you can set a password. It will limit access to them.  

Third – Use software to monitor employees

Chris, who recently had to pay for research paper services, says that for companies who wish to take this to a step further can purchase an employee monitoring software. This software helps you track even the tiniest movement of your employees. So right from the keystrokes to their inactive time, you’ll have an update on everything. Most of the monitoring software also have a content-filtering feature. Hence, using this, you can directly restrict the websites about nudity, drugs, weapons, etc. They are so versatile that you can use them to block individual websites too. 

How can you block websites on Chrome?

Ricky, who works with EduworldUSA, says that though blocking of the websites on Chrome browser is not a part of its installation process, there’s still an authentic way to go about with it. Follow the steps:

1. Click on the Block Site Extensions page on Chrome. 

2. Towards the right corner of the page, you will see an option of add to chrome. You have to click on this button. 

3. Next, a window will pop up that would say add the extension. Click on it to confirm. After this, you’ll see a thank you page. With that, the extension is installed. 

4. Further, you’ll have to head to the right-hand corner of the browser. You’ll see three dots there, click on it. From here, you can customize and control. 

5. Following the menu, click on more tools and tap on extensions. 

6. Next, click on the Block Site Options page where you can type in all the sites you want to block. 

How can you block websites on Firefox?

Follow these steps for Firefox blocking of the websites:

1. Towards the top of the browser, you will see some menus. From there, click on tools and add-ons.

2. After this, a page will open. From there, look for the search bar. In it, you’ll have to type in BlockSite. Click and Install the BlockSite add-on.

3. Once the installation is done, you’ll have to restart Firefox. 

4. Next, click on the Tools option and then select the add-on. In the add-on manager, select the extension button. 

5. Now, you’ll come across the Options tab where you can see the preference screen of the extension. Tap on the add button and add the sites that you want to block. Click on Ok to finish.