I was on-line at my office this week, trying to track down some airfares when the computer "accidentally" bumped me to a porn site. No one saw me looking at it, but my boss told me that I had been tracked to several "unauthorized" sites using the company's computer. They had a list of all the sites I visited, as well as the times and dates. This time I only received a reprimand, but they said next time I'd be terminated. Is that legal?
-On-line in Dallas, TX

Of course it is! Companies are permitted to take action if they discover unauthorized or potentially damaging use of their property. Surfing sexual-content sites is a clear-cut transgression whether or not management has articulated its policies on 'Net usage (as they should). Let's face it. You weren't reprimanded for a couple of "accidental" hits on racy sites, but rather for a pattern of such visits. (If it were only an accident or two, the usage log would make that very easy to determine.) Even if no one saw you looking, it's completely inappropriate behavior. And with technology that enables workers not only to view, but also to distribute information, no one wants to take any chances. It's no surprise that most companies are monitoring on-line activity. According to a survey by the American Management Association, more than half of all companies track employee 'Net usage with software packages such as SurfControl. Companies have numerous legitimate reasons for concern. For starters, there is the threat of sexual-harassment lawsuits if workers are viewing pornographic materials. Productivity is just as much of an issue. Technically, any non-authorized use of company property is called "theft of goods and services."

According to the Center for Internet Studies, 10 percent of workers admit to spending six hours or more accessing non-work related sites per week. Another 18 percent clock in between three and six hours. The two biggest categories of non-work related Web usage are news and job search sites. Job hunting on company time is foolish enough, but anyone caught surfing for porn simply deserves to get busted.

By the way—about those airfares you were tracking down. Were they for business or personal?

Though I work for a major seating manufacturer, I would like to "follow my bliss" into the textile field. I've always loved fabrics, and friends think I would make an excellent textile rep. Also, I understand they can make great money. So how do I get in the game?
-Fabric Fiend in Los Angeles, CA

The field of textiles is indeed superb, with plenty of upside potential even for newcomers. It's true that textile reps do very well, even in lean times. People still buy fabric because it's cheaper to reupholster something than to replace it. Plus, textiles cross over several industries, such as hospitality and health care, which often are not affected by economic slowdowns.

As you may know, breaking into anything new—including textiles—can be a tricky business. But with your passion for fabrics and the salesmanship skills you've developed in the furniture field, it should be fairly easy for you to cross over. Your wisest choice is probably to solicit one or more big players. Even though new textile converters seem to be opening up every other day, these are mostly niche players. The major companies still control the market, through up-to-date designs and strong, loyal (i.e., well paid) sales teams. The best textiles reps have strong personal relations with their clients. It's easy for textile companies to knock off products, so the sale is often based on the influence a rep has with the A & D firm or client. So, when you contact textiles firms, be sure to stress your relationships.

Lastly, the best way to find a job in any field is to pick a company whose products you like, and then contact them directly. Don't wait until you hear they are looking. By then it is usually too late. Just apply. The process is the same whether you go for contract or residential. Of the two, "contract" generally has the highest income potential, but residential is none too shabby either.