Ask the expert: Looking for a fair deal

Q. I have a problem with one of my staff. They are very productive and meet all their targets, but I often see them playing a computerised card game on their computer during the work day.

It's never for long - usually for a minute or less - but I find it unnerving to walk by and see them engaged in some version of computerised solitaire.

We have a policy on not using the computer for personal email or pornography, but nothing about computer games. Should we revamp the policy to include this as well?

A. This probably looks like an open-and-shut case, but it may not be. If you have a "no personal use" policy on company equipment, that would technically cover use of their PCs for anything other than a business purpose, assuming that all such infractions are treated the same.

For the employee who is playing the occasional game of solitaire, the behaviour may seem much less disruptive than personal phone calls, or office socialising, and if they are productive, it doesn't seem to be harming their performance overall.

It also seems from your letter that you are more concerned about seeing it, than the fact that it occurs, particularly since this is a very productive employee.

If you think it "looks bad" to you, perhaps your supervisors, or other employees, you might discuss the practice with the staff member.

If they are spending all day at the computer, and this is how they spend their breaks, then they'd be better off - healthwise - if they got away from the computer several times a day, rather than "taking a break" with another keyboard activity.

There is another consideration, as well. Research has indicated that many busy professionals face information overload at work and find it difficult to focus their attention on a particular task (with the phone ringing, the mobile phone vibrating, the email blinking and a raft of other incoming messages and demands on their time).

In an information-dense work environment, working on an unrelated simple task for a minute or two is an effective way of clearing the mind and allowing the person to return to their work with greater focus and clarity.

Some staff also use a game, particularly one that they regularly and quickly win, as a "mini-reward" for completing a task or section of a project for the day.

To the extent that this keeps them motivated and "on target", it can be a positive behaviour.

So, talk to them about what you have seen, and ask them why they do it, while keeping an open mind.