Even if employees watch porn on their own phones, they can still be sacked for breaking the rules on their bosses' time, says an employment law expert.
"The increase in people watching porn, being in violation in the workplace, is increasing every day," says Max Whitehead, a specialist in employment law and employment relations.
"The employer pays for your time, so when you're in the workplace, they own it - that's their time. So if you're watching porn or doing anything else that's distracting you from that you need the boss' permission," Whitehead told The AM Show on Tuesday.
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He said that meant that even if employees view explicit images on their own devices, they could still get in trouble.
His comments come after it was revealed staff at several Government ministries had attempted to access explicit material at work.
Information obtained by Newshub under the Official Information Act showed civil servants at the Ministry of Māori Development, the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Conservation had blocked staff attempting to access explicit material.
Whitehead says although looking at porn is legal, that doesn't mean it is acceptable to view it at work.
"It's like drinking alcohol - it's something that's lawful but the boss can put rules out saying it's not entitled."
Whitehall says with so many people having smartphones these days access to porn - even at work - can be done "very, very easily".
Statistics show "a phenomenal amount of people watch porn everyday", he says.
And it's not just full-time employees who must adhere to the rules - contractors are also subject to them, even if they view porn on their own devices and not their employer's computer.
You might be able to use your own phone, said Whitehead, "but if you use their time to watch porn then they could dismiss you."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who addressed the revelations on The AM Show on Tuesday morning, said civil servants were required to follow the rules of their workplace.
"My expectation is simply that everyone within our civil service follows the guidelines that they have been given and obviously there are some examples there that suggest that has not always been the case," she said.
"We have tens of thousands of public servants in New Zealand and we have an expectation that, of course, they follow the guidelines of their workplaces."
Ardern also said that the news should remind all employees - not just those working for the Government - that their employer may be watching what they are doing.
"It is a timely reminder for all of our employees. There will be a number of people sitting out there who won't be in the civil service, who will be suddenly reminding themselves that their workplace will probably have a little bit of an idea of what they are doing in their work hours."
Newshub.
