Procedures for administering internet usage policy guidelines were investigated using a policy capturing method. Three hundred and twenty participants reported their satisfaction with, and perceived fairness of, model internet usage policies. Embedded in the policy statements were dichotomous variations on six independent variables derived from the social
justice literature. People responded more favorably to policies that were given in a tangible paper form instead of remotely on a computer, were monitored remotely by a disinterested party as opposed to a direct supervisor, did not require immediate dismissal for breaches, and were conducted within a company culture with relaxed attitudes toward policy compliance. In addition, the results of a moderation analysis suggested that greater enforcement severity or a stricter compliance culture lead to more attention being focused on the related policies. The findings are of practical importance to firms considering how to manage internet access at
work in a fair and acceptable manner.