My eye was drawn recently to a piece in the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) magazine 'The Voice'. Under the heading 'A Cyber Plan for Businesses' is a report on the 'comprehensive guidance' from ACAS designed to help business 'get to grips with the cyber problem.' In it we are told that 'many staff are abusing access (to social media) when they should be working, by looking at personal websites, posting derogatory messages about managers and colleagues or buying and selling online.'
My heart sinks when I read this, not only because of the language ('cyber problem'??) but because it's this kind of thinking that IS the problem.
If staff are bored enough at work to be on Facebook or Ebay all day, or posting derogatory things about co-workers, what does that say about the workplace? It's all too easy to blame the internet rather than asking searching questions about poor management and staff morale!
It's time for ACAS, and other bodies with responsibility for shaping policy and opinion, to wake up and smell the social coffee. Social media is here to stay and trying to stop people from doing anything social online whilst at work is entirely counterproductive.
Businesses should be identifying the best social networkers, encouraging them and harnessing their skills and interest to work on behalf of the business. It's not an easy option but it beats trying to hold back the tide. And there are enough examples around to emulate. Let's get with the 21st century already!
Well said Robin – and with feeling!
It makes you wonder where ACAS (and possibly the FSB too) has been for the past few years. Seems that dinosaurs aren’t extinct after all:)
Doesn’t it! It’s frankly depressing…
This is what I do in order to minimize social media at work. In my work environment, my employees are working online remotely on their own computer. It is even harder to manage them just like we are in the same office. I had to use these kinds of tools these kinds of tools so that I would be able to know how they use their computer at work.
I also implement an internet usage policy that limits the use of social media, but we don’t deny it. I’ve try it all already block and filter all unrelated to work websites but it still it is counterproductive.I also think that when I deny it on their computer they won’t use their phone to access it. Happy staffs are more productive.Now, I realize that a bit of social media seems won’t hurt and it even helps on my business.