TimmyHEmployees refuse to work without their Facebook Fix
June 20th 2008 06:37
Employers who block access to social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook risk losing staff to other more progressive companies.
A recent study by Australian law firm Deacons has shown that more than half of respondents who use Facebook and MySpace during work would refuse a job where they were not allowed to access social networking.
This is a worrying statistic for employers who fear that social networking sites will damage productivity but also faces them with the dilemma of needing to retain staff in a tight job market with very low unemployment.
Nick Abrahams, head of Deacons' technology, media and telecommunications law practice says, "Younger employees are the ones who use social networking sites and it's these people organisations are trying to attract.”
The Deacons study surveyed 700 workers found many benefits to employers of allowing social networking in the workplace. Employees believe it shows a level of trust in them as well as giving them a break from their day to day grind and allowing them to better network with other employees, customers and suppliers.
Aside from the obvious productivity concerns, Mr Abrahams said one of the major problems for companies that do allow social networking is on the systems themselves rather than the employees. Downloading of images and video slow computer systems and also raises issues like harassment in the workplace.
"We have had instances where clients have come to us with issues around senior male managers inviting female colleagues to be their friend on Facebook and his profile page features him wearing Speedos," he said.
The report suggests that employers develop official policy guidelines regarding the use of social networking sites at work. Setting up time restraints and encouraging appropriate behaviour and company secrecy are important.
62 percent of employees currently have access to the internet at work and around 15 percent use social networking, but the figure is on the increase. Usage is significantly higher amongst Y Generation workers than their elders. 32 percent of Y Gens use social networking at work frequently.
A recent study by Australian law firm Deacons has shown that more than half of respondents who use Facebook and MySpace during work would refuse a job where they were not allowed to access social networking.
This is a worrying statistic for employers who fear that social networking sites will damage productivity but also faces them with the dilemma of needing to retain staff in a tight job market with very low unemployment.
Nick Abrahams, head of Deacons' technology, media and telecommunications law practice says, "Younger employees are the ones who use social networking sites and it's these people organisations are trying to attract.”
The Deacons study surveyed 700 workers found many benefits to employers of allowing social networking in the workplace. Employees believe it shows a level of trust in them as well as giving them a break from their day to day grind and allowing them to better network with other employees, customers and suppliers.
Aside from the obvious productivity concerns, Mr Abrahams said one of the major problems for companies that do allow social networking is on the systems themselves rather than the employees. Downloading of images and video slow computer systems and also raises issues like harassment in the workplace.
"We have had instances where clients have come to us with issues around senior male managers inviting female colleagues to be their friend on Facebook and his profile page features him wearing Speedos," he said.
The report suggests that employers develop official policy guidelines regarding the use of social networking sites at work. Setting up time restraints and encouraging appropriate behaviour and company secrecy are important.
62 percent of employees currently have access to the internet at work and around 15 percent use social networking, but the figure is on the increase. Usage is significantly higher amongst Y Generation workers than their elders. 32 percent of Y Gens use social networking at work frequently.
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