Light, Bright and Polite is a registered trademark of Joshua Ochs. Use of social media for work purposes is often recommended by employers as a way to stay connected with their employees and keep them updated on company deals, news, and events. Still, a little patience goes a long way. Increased reliance on social media can also lead to a sense of disconnection among employees, which could lead to employee theft or other disciplinary issues. Screening job candidates on social media must be done professionally and responsibly. Third is the use of social media where a company needs to set rights and responsibilities for the non-employees it invites to engage in its . Some employees take breaks by surfing through their social media feed. If an employer decides to grant social media breaks, Wrigley cautions them not to run afoul of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which requires them to pay workers . Let's find out more about Cyberbullying and Its Effects On Teenagers. You need your finger on the pulse of society. I am here, however, to suggest that there can be a backlash from that approach. One study found that employee productivity increased by at least 9% when they were permitted to browse social media at their leisure. In fact, you'll have instant access to the court of public opinion even as it evolves in front of you. Your company and its employees need to know how to use social networking effectively. The benefit of allowing employees to use their social media during work hours signals that you trust them. Its worked for us so far and has helped us maintain a friendly and relaxed environment. 98% will screen their LinkedIn profiles, 68% Facebook, and 26% Twitter. Related: How can technology be used in the workplace to improve communication? Work-life balance is important as well as an employees quality of work environment. Use of social media by employees during work hours is important to ensure that everyone is following company policy and using the sites in a responsible manner. Moral and employee engagement - Allowing the employees to use social networking at work will raise productivity and potentially boost workplace motivation for a variety of purposes: Shows that you trust them (boosting morality and happiness), Taking short breaks throughout the day will increase mood (and productivity), Communicating with loved ones raises their joy. I think this discussion runs deeper than just social media. Our social media company policy provides a framework for using social media. What are the effects of cyberbullying on children and adolescents? One of the fastest means of communication today is social networking. Before you delve into whether social media should be allowed in your workplace, its worth refreshing yourself on why you banned it in the first place. However, there are some cons to using social media at work. But times are changing and it's certainly best to keep up rather than scramble to bridge gaps and fill holes. When I've been stuck on an idea, I call out to my followers on Twitter or Facebook to get a deluge of answers. Con to allowing social media use during work hours: Using social media during work hours will become a bad thing when employees spend the whole day using social media and dont have any work done by the end of the day. You want your company to network. Here are nine considerations when deciding if you should monitor employees' social media: Create Comprehensive Policies. If an employee violates a policy, they may be fired or awarded less work hrs in retribution. Should Companies Let Employees Use Social Media at Work? Instead, they need to focus on how they can channel social media use to benefit their employees. Let's find out more about Technology and Its Impact On Productivity. In the end, of course, it's your business and your call. The effects of blocking social media will trickle down to the public -- quickly. #Ilovemyjob, could be a social media post made during work hours. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram and LinkedIn, are Internet-based services that provide individuals a way to interact with each other online. What is the relationship between cyberbullying and mental health? Additionally, employees may use social media for personal reasons, which could lead to stress and burnout. Published by Emma Saldanha on Thursday February 16th, 2017 and updated on Friday April 9th, 2021. This debate is rife with what ifs and maybes, making it difficult to know whether a no-tolerance policy is best. - Reduced risk of harassment or discrimination: Banning social media use can help curtail the potential for sexual harassment in the workplace. To assist you in making responsible decisions about your use of social media, we have established these guidelines for appropriate use of social media. Most hiring managers will screen social media at the application stage, before inviting a candidate to interview. Should employees be allowed to use social media at work? However, the conflicting views can be resolved if we focus on the individuals with whom an employee interacts through social media. Do not allow employees to post content that could easily be viewed as obscene, threatening, intimidating, harassing or bullying. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has criticized overly broad social media policies that prevent employees from exercising their collective bargaining rights, by, say, talking about wages or working conditions. Most studies indicate that internet usage hurts productivity in the workplace. This suggests, that if CISOs continue to permit their employees to chat on various unprotected social networks rather than secure ones, these incidents are certain to increase, and likely to happen to about all businesses this coming year. What better way to accomplish this than with social networking? It can also be a great tool that can be utilized by your employees, depending on how it is used. For me, that means allowing them to check their texts, social media, or other platforms during the workday. First, it allows employees to take short breaks for social networking throughout the day which will boost mood andinate employees. Thats an average of nine working weeks, all because you allowed employees to use social media. 80% of workers use social media on the job. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Let's find out more about The Benefits of A Bring Your Own Device (Byod) Policy In the Workplace. If you want to keep your employees informed of company policy, you should provide detailed guidelines for what is and is not allowed on social media during work hours. Albert is an expert in internet marketing, has unquestionable leadership skills, and is currently the editor of this website's contributors and writer. These days, we suggest that companies first start internally by setting KPIs (key performance indicators) for each employee, department and the company. Social media at the office can be a boost for quick connectivity, which improves productivity in ensuring smooth business results. Social media is a fastest way to reach your customer, business, friends and family. A waste of time One of the biggest concerns about allowing workers to use social media at the workplace is the wastage of precious time. And here's why: 1) It can help. However, I don't think there should be a blanket policy of no social media use due to one bad egg. If there is an emergency most people provide a company telephone and extension number where you can be reached right? The core issue is probably not the employee's access to social media, but rather some other performance or workplace issue. If your employees see a comment about the company, they should be directed to inform the social media manager at your organization immediately, instead of responding themselves. The cons of allowing an employee to use social media is when an employee takes advantage of a company's leniency and then misses out on their work which leads to delay in the entire work process. As social media comes ever more to the fore though, managers are left with a difficult decision: should employees be allowed to use social media at work after all? :-) I agree with the article's points. Consider the 2013 incident when a photo of a young Taco Bell employee licking a stack of taco shells ended up on the company's Facebook page. Facebook, Pintrest, Instagram) at work. Essay on Employee Social Media Use Policy ivoryresearch.com Developers are a very sharing group and post solutions to the problems they encounter on their blog. However, there are certain risks that need to be considered when using social media at work. It will make them feel valued (it's like a little perk of the job). While social media can be an ideal platform for effectively building an organization's brand and image, improper use of social media accounts by employees can be damaging. Social media cons you cant ignore Employees may become so involved in chatting with friends on social media that they neglect to perform their daily tasks in an efficient manner. All of that makes for some seriously powerful advertising. To view or add a comment, sign in When employees' mental health is negatively affected by what they read on social media. Sadly, you cant ensure the same if employees are posting online during the working day. Yes, employees are allowed to use personal social media at work. Additionally, social media can be a great way for employees to connect with one another and build relationships. There are distinct advantages to allowing and even encouraging employees to use social media sites while at work. Potential of a Virus - There's still a technological problem to think about. If you don't have strong security, and/or your employees aren't particularly computer-savvy, it can be a big risk to take. Use of social media by employees can have negative effects on the work environment. Let's find out more about Mobile Technology and Its Impact On Business Operations. 3. Sites like LinkedIn, for instance, provide endless articles that could both inspire and improve employee skill sets. That's a daunting task.Imagine blocking Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr - but then Ins. What is listed as news or information on social media can significantly affect the mood of an individual in a very quick time span. First, it needs to address how employees use social media for their personal, non-company use. Social media in the workplace: Research roundup journalistsresource.org If you treat your employees like adults and trust them, there is no reason not to let them be on social media throughout the day, unless you see they are not getting work done. Story by Ritika Puri. But if you notice it in your team members or co-workers, suggesting they limit their time perusing the internet may be helpful to them both personally and professionally. When it comes down to it, I've found that the best way to retain your best talent is to treat them like adults. Ultimately, if an employee gets everything done, who really cares if they spend 10 minutes browsing Instagram? So, should social media be banned in the workplace? Worse, employees walking into these traps could leave your virus protection software void. You can get this with your employees on social networking sites. Company policy should discourage its use. Q: 1.On 1 July 2021, OZ Ltd grants 20 share options to each of its 100 employees working in the sales department. Of course, if you have an employee who isn't completing their work due to social media use, you may need to sit down and have an honest conversation about what you've observed. I value corporate social responsibility a lot and I try to engage my employees in all kinds of activities. Use of social media can be beneficial or harmful depending on the employer's reason for banning it. They can 'like' posts published by the company on Facebook or Instagram, retweet company tweets, or share pictures to be used on company social channels. - Posts should not promote or boast about company products or services. This is up 81% and 60% from last year, respectively. There are pros and cons to allowing employees to use social media during work hours. If an employee is authorized to use social media as part of their job duties, be sure use meets your supervisor's expectations and is targeted to those duties. For today's employees, the internet is an integral part of everyday life. As a result, when using social media, Department employees should use caution and, as in everything they do, exhibit sound judgment and common sense. Social networking can actually help you in the long run, and I want to try to open your eyes to this fact. As an employer, you can help them leverage LinkedIn 's features to share ideas . Moreover, using social media allows employees to stay updated and catch up on any new trends and opportunities that may come up online. From what Ive noticed, it doesn't affect their job performance negatively. Out of the 62% of employees who accessed social media during working hours, nearly 83% of them spend significant time browsing Facebook. Allows employees to take a much-needed mental break According to a survey, the major reason why most employees use social media at work is to take a mental health break from all the stress of their job. Do not include information that could be harmful or disruptive to others working in the office. It sometimes can be a pain to get them unblocked. Nearly half of them said that they used social media to connect with friends and family, view photos and videos and even to search for a new job. Personal use of social media like listening to music or watching videos during breaks can help make work more enjoyable and less stressful. When you're facing push-back from decision-makers in your company, here are some proven reasons you can share with them about why using social media at work can be a good thing. Let us know: contact[at]thedigitalwhale.com. Whether employees are moaning to their mates or posting pictures of their packed lunches, social networking sites can eat up untold amounts of work time, and leave your company struggling as a result. On the downside, however, social media might also allow for distractions from work (such as time spent on comparative websites or imitating friends on social media). Furthermore, even if you block social media platforms on your network, they can still use their smartphones to access the websites so there's no point in blocking them. Agreed! When you create a circle of trust amongst your staff, you're indirectly boosting productivity. I like to use a productivity-boosting technique called the Pomodoro technique which is to take small 5-minute breaks after an hour of work. Let's find out more about How Can Parents Better Manage Their Teenager's Use of Technology and the Internet?. For instance, when searching for how to do something in Excel or Word, often the search results point to a page on Quora, Reddit, or Youtube, which is a great resource for up-to-date information. Employees should be encouraged to be a part of social media activity. Your employees may be communicating with the outside world, but many of those people on the outside are consumers and possible clients. The company I work for seems fairly lenient on social media as long as it isnt your focus the entire day. For most managers and executives, the bottom line will yank the rug out from under these reasons. John Frigo, SEO Lead, Best Price Nutrition. Let's find out more about Building An Effective Personal Brand. Companies should actively encourage the use of social media on company time. Either way when everybody is using one smartphone you can't block them using social media! Keep track of employee's online activity. Q: In a study conducted in 2004, it was found that the share of online advertisement worldwide, as a percentage of the tota. And getting on board early shows the public that you are an agile, aware company. No ones saying that you should entirely lift workplace bans on certain websites. The plus points that put social media up for discussion It's important to have a social media policy that shows the balance needed to use social media throughout the work day. That's an average of nine working weeks, all because you allowed employees to use social media. Flame wars, whether propagated by the company or by its employees, never result in positive public opinion. But taking five minutes to cool off by looking at social media after receiving another nagging e-mail from Barb is not going to hurt. Probably not. Instead of giving full access to the employees, which can be rather distractive, you can allow them to use social media at workplace with some restrictions and focus on employer branding and social collaboration. Agency business use of social media, including professional networking, should further WSDOT's mission and values. Your reputation is everything in business. Reasons Why Employees Use Social Media. In reality, though, social media usage done right does also offers workplace benefits. What are parents' thoughts on how they manage their teenagers' digital technology use? SHRM.org has an excellent post that highlights 7 Ways to Maximize Benefit and Minimize Risk of social media screening: Never ask for passwords. But how exactly can you implement those advantages without compromising on company culture? How to let your employees use social media at work without losing their focus October 7, 2014 - 4:10 pm. The survey found 62% of employers admitted they use social media sites to check on prospective employees. SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE AT WORK. In fact, it's just about the most immediate form of communication you can find. This often would backfire, because team members would want to connect with family and friends. Social media can be addictive and time-consuming, making it difficult to stay focused. Allowing them to use it on a daily basis now will ensure that they're social media savvy, without the need for training. Lost productivity A survey from 2012 revealed that widespread social media usage could result in up to 390 wasted working hours a year. Some organizations may allow employees to access and use their personal social media accounts in the workplace during normal work hours or break-times. Social media at work reduces the stress as employees are kept well informed 24 7even about certain important developments at the home front. Other than that it needs to be understood that social media is a part of life, 24/7. With those cons in mind, you may be wondering why you would ever waiver on your social media policy. Crimes of defamation, discrimination and harassment can hold the employer responsible initially or completely. A survey from 2012 revealed that widespread social media usage could result in up to 390 wasted working hours a year. Allowing your employees to participate in social networking illustrates to your employees' social circle that you mean business when it comes to employee retention and happiness. 1. I think this provides employees a way to distress during work. Bottom line is that allowing employees to use social media during work can help them share ideas and thoughts with others, and can boost their productivity. Allowing your employees to take advantage of social networking also shows you care about them. It can allow your employees to have mental breaks and relax for a while. 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