According to a story reported by the Wall Street Journal, web surfing at work improves performance.

Participants in the study were broken into three groups, given the same simple, repetitive task for 10 minutes. Each group was then split up: the first did 10 minutes of another simple task, the second was allowed to do anything but surf the internet, and the third was allowed to surf the web.

The study showed that those allowed to surf the web "were significantly more productive and effective" and "reported lower levels of mental exhaustion." The study suggested that web surfing was more restful than more strenuous break activities, particularly singling out responding to email.

They suggested emails can be more frustrating and exhausting than web browsing - since you can't control the content of your emails (most of which have some work involved to them), but you typically pick and choose which websites to browse.

Finally we have concerete proof that reading XKCD and the oatmeal helps you work better, so you have an excuse for your constantly hovering boss.


But it doesn't matter if you live in New York: you can't be fired for web surfing as long as work is still getting done.