Facebook and other social networks in the workplace

Recently we built a social network for The Entrepreneurial Exchange in Scotland and 5 weeks in the site is proving extremely popular with lots of communication and over 30,000 page views by the members. It is a private network so we had to send invitations to 480 members, this is when a small problem came to light caused by a few member companies who block social media sites in the workplace.

This got me thinking about the practice of blocking social networks in the workplace and I wondered what you think about this.

Personally, I think employers should acknowledge the power of social media and embrace it with open arms. Learn how to use it to your advantage rather than trying to ban it. Let's face it, you can already access sites like Facebook from a mobile phone so, are you going to take mobiles from employees as they arrive in the morning?

I agree with an article written by David Eaves from The Globe and Mail, Canada who wrote “As free-thinking adults who manage to show up on time each day, we are ultimately responsible for our own conduct. Things like coming back from lunch on time, not sitting and reading the paper or a novel all day in our offices, or standing at the water cooler and chatting with colleagues until the whistle blows are where we are able to monitor and measure our own slacking. At least Facebook manages to keep people at their desks!”

The TUC (Trade Union Congress) in the United Kingdom issued a briefing document that suggests establishing a policy on usage within the workplace. I am certainly more in favour of this than an outright ban and total blockage. Like it or not, social networking is here to stay, the ‘Net Generation’ will see to that. Companies need to be prepared to communicate at this level and, when I see that Stanford University has recently launched a Facebook Class, I feel I might be right.

Here’s what Cisco Systems had to say about encouraging staff to use Facebook, “We are now pulling motivation from the roots of the organisation rather than pushing from the top down”. Indeed, many blue chip companies are using Facebook and other social platforms to recruit the cream of the graduates each year.

As a company we are using Web 2.0 technology, including a range of social platforms, to help clients promote their businesses therefore, I find it strange that other businesses are so ‘anti-social’.

I would urge every employer to look carefully at their policy on all Web 2.0 technology and social networking, I am certain it is the future and, 26 million social network users in the UK agree!!!

What are your thoughts on this, please post your comments.

Gordon