Employees waste four hours and ten minutes a week surfing the net and checking email when they should be working, according to research by Peninsula BusinessWise.

It found that 80% of UK workers admit they surf the Internet for personal use when they should be working.

Mike Huss, senior employment law specialist at Peninsula BusinessWise, says: “Employers need to introduce strict measures that clearly state the times when employees can and cannot use Internet facilities and what they should be used for. Whilst also making it a disciplinary offence which could result in the employee's dismissal following correct procedures. Employers must ensure that they carry out correct disciplinary procedures in such circumstances otherwise they are leaving themselves at risk of being taken to Tribunal.”