I work in the sales department of a US-based battery manufacturer outside the US. My job nature requires me to go online to do market research, but for some odd reason I do not get internet access at work. I ask repeatedly to get internet access on my work computer and the answer is NO. There are a couple of internet workstations somewhere on my office floor and I am told to use them to get online. However this is very inconvenient, especially when I need to copy and paste information I find on the internet. So I decided to get online with my personal netbook with a newly subscribed mobile broadband service. One day my supervisor saw me getting online with my personal netbook and informed the IT department about it. The IT department then sent me an email saying that using my own netbook for internet access is strictly prohibited in this company. I am not happy about this. I want to know if it is legal for US companies to disallow employees from using internet devices (such as netbooks or cell phones) to get online. I am not trying to transfer confidential company information to my netbook or anything like that. I am just trying to do my job since my company is unable or refuses to provide the necessary tools for me.
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Verified answer
Yes,they can. You are on their time,they have every right to restrict you using personal devices. They are providing the necessary tools for you. There is internet access in the building that you are able to use. The fact that it is inconvenient for you doesn't make one lick of difference.
When you accepted a position with this company a relationship was started in which you agreed to do work for them, you accepted their conditions and requirements for that work, and you both agreed on a specific wage. This agreement is, for the most part, at-will. At-will employment means that both parties are free to terminate this relationship at any time. Now if you have contracted with the company, as you may have since you are working outside the country, that may not be as true for you. If there is a contract this means that there may be additional consequences if you elect to terminate the agreement early that go beyond the loss of employment. If there is a contract it probably includes a provision for your adherence to company policy. If your breaks are unpaid they cannot tell you not to access the internet on your own time, but they could tell you that you can not use your net book on company property.
It is not illegal to require someone to do work the way you want them to do it when you are paying them to do that work in the first place. If you don't like the way you are told to do your job then find a different job.
You said it was illegal in the Country YOU WORK IN, that's not the net company denying you. It is perfectly legal for a Sovereign Nation to say you can only use restricted net access.
Yes, it is perfectly legal for them to deny personal internet access. Personal internet access is not some sort of a constitutional right.