NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Channel 4 I-Team investigation shows what state workers were up to when they were supposed to be working.

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Taxpayers pay the salaries of state workers, and once they see what some workers were doing with their work computers, taxpayers may want their money back.

The workers are expected to type, crunch numbers and keep government up and running.

Channel 4's Jeremy Finley found some state workers editing sometimes lengthy entries for Web sites that clearly have nothing to do with work. One person took the time to add all the lyrics of the theme song for "All in the Family."

"My first reaction is, 'These folks are bored. They don't have enough to do,'" said taxpayer advocate Ben Cunningham.

Another person contributed to actor's credits for a new "Flash Gordon" cartoon. Another person made an addition to ensure that everyone knows about a gel that will stop herpes from spreading.

All the information was added by state workers who spent time adding information to the Web site Wikipedia.com while on computers at work, Finley reported.

"On the surface, that looks pretty bad," said Office of Finance and Administration spokeswoman Lola Potter.

Wikipedia.com is one of the most popular Web sites on the Internet. It's an online encyclopedia where anyone can add information about their favorite people, places or things.

The I-Team was able to trace 677 contributions to Wikipedia.com to state office Internet addresses. One of the entries included time spent adding the name of a "Star Trek" role-playing game.

Another was found verifying Shemp's catch phrases on "The Three Stooges."

"These folks are not working hard. They are being paid by the taxpayers. They are on the job and clearly, they are pretty bored," Cunningham said.

"The state has fired people for Internet abuse," Potter said.

The state said it takes the incidents seriously and makes all employees sign a four-page policy stating that the Internet is only for job-related duties.

"Those people who are spending too much time on Wikipedia are not doing their jobs, and they’re going to be out. There's someone anxious for that job who will fill that position," Potter said.

A lot of people might ask who doesn’t spend time at work on fun Web sites. But Finley said the Wikipedia.com time is the only one the I-Team was able to trace and can’t be clear if the workers were using other Web sites.

"If this is indicative of an overall pattern, that really is alarming," Cunningham said.

The cases may not only be state workers. The I-Team found 200 entries and edits to Wikipedia.com traced to Metro Nashville's government Internet service.

Those contributions included adding a picture of comedian Will Ferrell from a popular “Saturday Night Live” skit.

Because Metro government provides free Wi-Fi service at some parks and libraries, it’s possible that some or all of the entries came from the public.

The I-Team wanted to know for sure, but Mayor Karl Dean’s spokeswoman Janel Lacy said there's no way to tell. She said Metro Internet user addresses are randomly assigned and couldn't give more detail for security reasons.

As for the state, it vowed to hold its employees accountable because tax money should not be paying a worker who logged 60 entries to Wikipedia.com about the fraternity Sigma Chi while on the job.

"If he doesn't have the focus to, you know, put his attention to his job, he's going to lose it," Potter said.

State supervisors can monitor where their employees have been on the Internet.

A spokeswoman for the state said there's nothing wrong with employees spending a few minutes on other Web sites while on their lunch break but that taking the time to contribute six times is not allowed.

Use the same method the I-Team used to check out other agencies or another company by clicking here.

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