THE SOARING popularity of online Christmas shopping could cost British businesses more than £7 billion, according to the latest research from ELAS. 

Increasingly sophisticated websites and a greater trust in the Internet are expected to push online sales to £9 billion this Christmas. But while retailers benefit – employers are losing out thanks to staff doing their shopping at their desk.

 ELAS head of consultancy, Peter Mooney, said: “More and more people are turning to the Internet either to buy presents, or to do a little window shopping,”

“But for many employers, every hour a member of staff spends looking for Christmas presents online is an hour they should have spent working. “

Even using rather conservative estimates this could cost UK businesses billions in just two months leading up to December 25.”

Working on an average of half an hour a day spent shopping online, and an average hourly wage of £12.50, ELAS estimate that UK employers could stand to lose £7.25 billion in lost time in just eight weeks. 

“Very few employers are so Scrooge-like that they wouldn’t forgive their staff the occasional glance at Christmas presents online,” said Mr. Mooney. 

“But with sophisticated – and at times, addictive - websites now geared to keeping shoppers online for as long as possible, even an occasional glance can turn into half an hour browsing.” 

To combat the problem, employers should set out a specific Internet policy and email it to staff. It's very important, especially in the current financial climate to protect your business via the proper employment law routes. Ensuring you act properly within UK employment law means you are arm yourself with the necessary weapons in cases of disciplinary action.

“By outlining what is and what is not acceptable during work time, employers not only remind their staff not to abuse work systems, but give themselves a solid basis on which to take action whenever anyone oversteps the mark,” explains Mr. Mooney. 

“Without that, not only do bosses face losing a lot of time to shopping, they could even come unstuck for taking excessive action.”

For more information about the scheme or any other employment law matter, please call ELAS on 0161 785 2000

Visit www.employment-law.uk.com for more information.

For HR Software to manage your absences, visit www.employersafe.co.uk