Instead of blocking social networks all together, employers should be creating guidelines for how their staff can leverage them to enhance their jobs; although - this is easy to say when you're a recruiter
Kees Romkes
· 2 months ago
That's the only way to use it in my opinion, although that's just a small change in the mindset of employers. Stop creating boxes (e.g. private/work) and let that balance slip a little. No knowledge worker is productive 8 hours a day and when you let a little private life into work, some work will move into private life as well (creating a better name for your business as result for example)
SHOPVince
· 2 months ago
Macy's is one company that does not allow their employees to access these social sites. What's funny is that they have a display ad running on this very page: "..We're on facebook...become a fan..."
Very apropos.
ryanve
· 2 months ago
It would be interesting to see if there is a divergence of average CIO age between each side of the split. Plus I bet many block them without knowing why. IMO blocking sites is disrespectful to employees, and it shows fear—either the company has something to hide, or that they are not able to adapt to a changing business environment. How can you trust a company that doesn't even trust its own emloyees?
Chris
· 2 months ago
I've been lucky - the only employer I had in London to block these sorts of things started out blocking Facebook except for 1 hour each day at lunch.
Then they realized they were missing out on networking ... so they flipped the coin and allowed it for 'business generation uses'.
Idiots.
People Search
· 2 months ago
With all the people who are unemployed now, I guess this doesn't matter much to them.
As for employers who block social networks, I wonder if they have seen any productivity gains from this action.
natalie
· 2 months ago
My business encourages Social Networking. :D
nileshbabu
· 2 months ago
that's the way to go - shud encourage - as long as there's no drop in "real work" at office..
ConnorJack
· 2 months ago
LOL! That example is funny
Justin
· 2 months ago
Totally off topic but, Where do I get me one of those SNS mousepads in the picture thats awesome!
Here we are allowed to use internet as much as we want, specially during night shifts. I did notice that when I started working here my boss googled me, found nickname I use most often (this one) and googled that. Which is why my FB and MS accounts are set to private and I make a habit of erasing history at the end of shift.
But I understand why employers are trying to limit time employees are spending online for private matters instead of, you know, work.
Austin Vegas
· 2 months ago
Unfortunately this type of solution becomes more common in down economies (with reduced IT staff/resources/capital). It's easier for an employer to block FB, twitter et al.than to risk exposure, productivity loss, or spend the time and capital to evaluate, purchase, implement, and tune policy and control measures for allowed use. If IT cannot detail to management significant profit/cultural benefits, operations cost reductions and limited exposure from data leakage or security risks from approved use of social network solutions, they will get lumped in with other "time sucks" or perceived as unnecessary for the companies bottom line. But unlike IM, this will not become a long term trend.
dhalili
· 2 months ago
my first love is the IE then my love for it died because i find it too slow then i fell in love with opera, then too mozillafirefox but since i love google as my search engine so to keep my loyalty to them, the moment i knew that google gave birth to chrome it is now my browser. (I wish they can develop an app. for NokiaE71 since i also love browsing on mobile)
BUT i was saddened by this that a lot has been using internet but they don't know what a BROWSER MEANS?! shocking! but its not too late. share this link world"wild" spread THIS!!
alexdesoto
· 2 months ago
We're encouraging people to use social media for business here.
Employers who really want to feel "in control" may want to start confiscating personal web-enabled cell phones.
andy21385
· 2 months ago
We used to be able to get everything but then they suddenly banned everything social networking related without any kind of warning. One day it worked the next it didn't. I guess a lot of people complained because about a week later they brought it back, but just between 12 and 2 when people are usually on lunch.
Youtube comes and goes. BBC iPlayer works fine. I can watch an episode of Eastenders if I wanted too. No problem.
I get the impression that as things keep coming and going, they keep changing their minds and don't really know what they're doing. The CEO even started a Facebook company page which was odd seeing as we can't get on it at work. No ones going to bother going onto it in their free time.. Seems like he is contradicting himself.
I know people bring in their own laptops with dongles or check on their phones anyway so it doesn't make much difference..
stevemeldrum
· 2 months ago
Convince the CEO to allow access to facebook twitter, et al. Then encourage employees becomes fans of your company. Next, friends in your network will see your fanaticism an become fans as well. Of course, this is somewhat easier if you and your network are customers / prospects for your company's products and services. Likewise, this should be linked to an overall Social Media Strategy. All the best!
Stephanie Boodoo
· 2 months ago
Restrictions: Facebook, youtube, myspace. Twitter isn't popular in my country yet.
Jack
· 2 months ago
This might contribute to lack of awareness and a decrease in sales. Social media is such a brand awareness engine, that blocking it from employees could endanger some companies. more at http://domusinc.blogspot.com/2009/10/starbucks-...
dangabriel
· 2 months ago
These companies did not read Cluetrain manifesto. "Paranoia kills conversation. That's the point. But lack of open conversation kills companies."
jimgoldstein
· 2 months ago
I've experienced both employers that block and permit Social Media use. It's useless to block it. Cell phones can be used just as easily to access these sites. Best to guide people to appropriate use and policies. The people that are not doing their job aren't going to do it whether they have access to a site or not.
Mondi
· 2 months ago
Personally, I think the boss replying to the facebook rant is just as unprofessional as the facebook rant itself. He doesn't need to a) post anything about his sexual preference, b) swear, or c) be on facebook himself? I mean...right???
Trudy
· 2 months ago
Agreed. The rant is just as unprofessional. I know he was feeling like a hero or something too. Bla bla bla.
dangabriel
· 2 months ago
If your employees are spending time on Social networks - it means that they are bored with the job, non-productive because they don't like it anyhow. Why don't move as employer into a position of understanding people use of social networks.
Trudy
· 2 months ago
I don't think employers care about employees' satistfaction in the job, they just want their rules followed. It's an eternal circle or paradox. When an employee is stimulated by the work and treated with respect, the rules will be followed more often. When an employee follows the rules, they may (or still may not) be treated with respect.
BrainB0ne
· 2 months ago
Blocking those sites is really bad i think... You can use many features/content from these sites to your advantage.
Twitter, Facebook and other social-networking sites are part of the modern way of doing business in my point of view.
Trudy
· 2 months ago
Whatever. It goes both ways. Employers treat employees like crap, employees mouth off. This example will just make employers look like the poor victims when they are the ones with the money and power, especially in this economy where the employee is at the whim of their every word. Bla bla bla. To the employees who are banned, go mobile unless you are not allowed a cell phone at your job either. And don't use the company WiFi, pay for wireless coverage.
danthecreator
· 2 months ago
My employer has blocked Facebook completely. Twitter is not restricted, yet, but I have a feeling it's only a matter of time. Do I believe this is absurd? Yes! There should not be a need to block social media sites (or any type of site for that matter) from grown adults. If your employees cannot manage their time effectively and know when get some work done instead of surfing the internet, then they should not be your employees!
There are people that abuse the privilege of being able to surf the internet during "downtime" and they ruin it for everyone else.
Companies also need to realize that social media is BIG and not jumping on that wagon to help your business means passing up on a big opportunity.
To sum it all up: employees need to be more responsible and companies need to stop being so ignorant to social media!
ryanve
· 2 months ago
Isn't there an age-old rule that people who think they have power will deny and discount new ways because they are threatened by them? Then they fight them—maybe by banning them, buying them out, or taking them to court. (Haha—you can't sue the internet!) But then they realize they need them, so they either adopt or steal them.
StevenMoore
· 2 months ago
Anyone that wants a workaround will find it. It will take time for leaders and good teachers to show business the power of a business based on a social business design or ecosystem. Those 10% that are open are going to get a head start that's all.
itsericaa
· 2 months ago
My work blocked Facebook, Myspace, and Youtube a long time ago (as well as Perez Hilton haha). They had Twitter blocked, but unblocked it once everyone pointed out that since the company has a Twitter, we should be allowed on! (this explains my new Twitter addiction!) Personally, I agree with everyone who said it should be allowed since everyone has it on their phones anyways. Plus, even if they block those sites, employees will find plenty of others to "waste" company time on :)
Adam
· 2 months ago
I work for a company that used to have almost everything social media-related blocked, but they have slowly been opening it up. Facebook and Twitpic are still blocked, but Youtube and Twitter are not. I don't quite get the Twitpic thing. Also, it's extremely annoying to anyone that uses Twitter a lot...
ragtag
· 2 months ago
No other image hosting service for twitter?
Adam
· 2 months ago
I can upload to a different one, but Twitpic is what most people use, so as far as seeing other people's, if it's on Twitpic, it's not going to work.
bhartzer
· 2 months ago
In certain jobs, they need to block it. It's not an employee's job to be online while they're supposed to be working.
ragtag
· 2 months ago
There are many things employees shouldn't be doing. Blocking them isn't going to help. Firstly, if employees hate their jobs and don't want to work, they will always find a way to "look busy." Secondly, have proper business guidelines, assessment and disciplinary procedures in place - including social media usage guidelines. If you have those you can deal with the minority that may abuse the system without punishing the majority.
If people aren't doing their job does it matter how they are not doing it?
oscar
· 2 months ago
Well, probably it is time to buy a smart phone.....
Murray Malakoff-Lawyer
· 2 months ago
Am a labor lawyer on the 'ee side usually-doesn't surprise me that 'ers do this private sector 'ees- private sector 'ers can probably get away with it-Government 'ees are a different story since there are legit first amnedment concerns that might be voiced..hmmmm!
Brad F.
· 2 months ago
WTF is an 'ee, 'ers, and 'ees?
aaa
· 6 days ago
prefix with "employ"
Jeff
· 2 months ago
The key is how does the IT community build business applicaitons which use these technologies to their advantage. I run a Project Management company and feel there is a practical use for these applications in ones day to day activities......and i dont mean posting that you hate your boss/job. Why not post quick updates on the project you are working to the PM? Any other Ideas?
robertmerrill
· 2 months ago
Is this news? Of course companies will restrict employees from spending as much time as possible online for less-than-professional reasons. That's why their called "companies" not "cafes".
In my experience, companies that keep their employees from peering out into the world also spend a fair amount of time with their fingers in their own ears trying to be sure nothing negative gets in, either. All that truth gets in the way of navel-gazing.
Say it with me: "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. I can't hear you."
If anything else, I heard a rumor that Facebook, MySpace and Twitter work on those newfangled cellular telephones now, too? Wow.
Brad F.
· 2 months ago
Most people I know that use Twitter and Facebook "from work" are actually doing it from their mobile phones. Though, my wife does have access to Twitter and Facebook from her office because her company encourages it. They want employees to talk about their work (obviously only the good stuff) in an effort to make a connection with younger generations in this area.
BHMediaMarty
· 2 months ago
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. I can't hear you.
robertmerrill
· 2 months ago
Awesome. :-)
Fred
· 2 months ago
My employer blocks almost everything. Sports, all forms of social networking, a lot of my friends personal sites with their own URL's. It's obsurd. We are in the technology biz too which makes me laugh a little.
Simon Lazenby
· 2 months ago
Puzzling choice, that some employers restrict social network usage without identifying the clear business benefits. I’ve noticed a tribal response in office environments where peers regulate any individual guilty of spending their day networking (typically outed at team meetings/functions) MSN is used as an internal comms channel, rather then sending unnecessary emails… Popular social networks become a clear comms channel, where staff become advocates of company campaigns, products or services. Performance management & a positive working environment aren’t mutually exclusive. Social networks should become a key performance indicator via staff to influence your company's brand reputation.
Trigeia Twins
· 2 months ago
We would have to say that blocking these sites at ones work is probably doing the employee a favor. Is their really such a thing as free speech?
Evie
· 2 months ago
People who publicly declare their dislike for their job are BEGGING to be released from the bondage they so despise :-) it is a win-win-win :-)
Mayara
· 2 months ago
I work WITH social media and am required to use and understand all, plus everyone around me uses twitter 24/7 for business AND entertainment - and manages to keep the company running and it works wonders.
BHMediaMarty
· 2 months ago
I find twitter especially a great resource for my business and I actually introduced my staff to it and it has been inspirational, educational and entertaining.
Jeannot Muller
· 2 months ago
Would be interesting to know how many of these future former employers will ban newspaper, close down their canteens and bathrooms, forbid user access to internet in general, blackberries, iPhones etc. - It's up to the management to evaluate the productivity of their employees, and this should ensure that there is no misuse.
BHMediaMarty
· 2 months ago
Oddly enough, my old boss once got me to remove web browsers from the other staff's computers to stop them surfing the net, assuming that all the resources they'd need would be in the studio. Was so funny when they could no longer find fonts, images or sound clips they needed to complete tasks. I never really got to use the canteen as every time I went to sit down the boss would stick his head in and ask for something and then keep looking thru the window to see if I'd moved. Sad state of affairs.
BHMediaMarty
· 2 months ago
If the facilities were being abused then I would agree to blocking them. Twitter is a great source of helpful links but I have seen employees spend most of their day tweeting and commenting on facebook and myspace. The internet in general can be a huge time vampire, sucking hours out of a day without the user realising. A quick 5 minute check on facebook can turn into an hour, two, three and so on.
If companies exercised a fair use policy then they could possibly get the best of both worlds but there's bound to be staff that abuse it and spend all day using these things. After all, they're employed for a reason, to add value to their employers company and justify their cost to the company, not to be paid to spend all day working on their social life.
mikeschnoor
· 2 months ago
If you don't know it, don't let it get you and block it forever. Aha. Nice approach by these employers.
I seriously believe you need specific guidelines to give employees a good start into the world of social media - and for the company a first approach to integrate social media into their communications and corporate culture. If they've got a problem with Social Media, they should better cut off the internet for their employees instead of blocking twitter.
In my situation, for PR, I can't even think of a time without that amazing realtime info about our company (sevenload) or business related news coming from the twittersphere. On the other hand, we're a social media company... might be the reason why there's not this kind of direct blocking in our minds. :)
Name
· 2 months ago
Banning these sites is in the best interest of the employees. Employees just end up blogging about things they shouldn't and then, when push comes to shove and a firm like Twitter has to make a decision between a free speech tweeter and potential paying customer with a lawyer, Twitter will throw your free speech tweeting employee under the bus.
Bob Evans
· 2 months ago
I would have retweeted this but I have a badge of my tweets on work sites and the language in the sample Facebook exchange might get me in trouble.
Colin Gilchrist
· 2 months ago
If you are in business development or in a customer service role access to social media sites is an essential element of the job. Both role's should be targetted by the company and it would soon become clear whether access to these sites is effecting your performance and that of the company profile.
Otherwise it's an element of trust - do you trust your staff not to bunk off? If you don't why have they been hired? If you allow staff access equivalent to that of a cigarette break would that be an equivalent? - Could the IT departments put timers on access...?
Hell with phones the way they are now, if you want to play around there is nothing stopping you.
Oh and by the way if you are company worried about what is being said about you - get on those social sites and paint a positive picture - get fans, make friends - look after your brand!
Herb
· 2 months ago
I feel like I'm being treated like a child having everything so blocked at work. I bought my own laptop and USB modem.
פורומים
· 2 months ago
pretty smart. where i work i see people browsing the web and using fdacebook at least 50% of the time, not to mention the farmville addicted users :-)
Gerald Hand
· 2 months ago
This example you used, at the risk of making a rash generalization, is a prime example of why it may not be in the businesses' best interest in letting people use the platforms at work. If someone is so inane as to make comments like this AFTER adding her boss as a contact, (never mind the fact emails and other correspondence may be scrutinized), they probably need to put their toys away and concentrate on work.
Not every job benefits from Social Networking. One must ask themselves if what they are doing will benefit their business and enhance their job. If the answer is no, well, the rest is obvious,
AJ
· 2 months ago
Our focus is bringing more transparency to the workplace, so it was great to read your post, Adam, along with all of the comments. We're actually in the 10% that allows full use of social networks. This, of course comes with an expectation -- social network usage integration with efficient completion of all of our work. That combination has allowed for each of us to have a personal and/or business voice in social media (we're all on FB, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.), and productivity hasn't suffered within our company (it's actually improved, but that's merely my observation as we continue to execute above target on our roadmap).
@ki2mylife
Lucy
· 2 months ago
I think it is silly. They should block fantasy sports pages. Now THAT'S a time sucker.
Francois
· 2 months ago
Actually, I took the initiative to promote our company through various social medias so I do not get any negative comments from my employer who does not mind if at the same time I use the medias for personal use.
David Spinks
· 2 months ago
That study, or at least the article about it, seems to be very unreliable. Doesn't seem to take into account any sort of extent or context and it doesn't explain how they found these results. I think that depending on the industry, you'll see this percentage very greatly.
Either way...it's certainly something that will change, whether or not companies want it to.
Ed
· 1 month ago
Hurm. My employer issues my BlackBerry, and runs its Internet connection through the same blocking software as the desktops.
mashable information
· 1 month ago
Not only in workplace but also in school. Some schools block it because students are doing facebook even during classes in the laboratory. :(
We just hired a person who I found through my private twitter network. If a company blocks out social media networks also for people who are within marketing or HR then they are limiting their use of their employees. Plain and simple.
My company blocked myspace and facebook, but not youtube (not yet at least) and it never bothered meuntill I realized that they only blocked certain people... all the Managers and some of the Scientist all have complete acess... our scientist are on Facebook constantly,... I know this becaus I am facebook friends with them and get updates on my phone from them... at work.. saying stuff like "should be working but dont feel like it so I'll just screw around on facebook"... yeah that makes me want to do my job!
Sean R. Nicholson
· 1 week ago
Unfortunately, employees are getting mixed messages. Do more with less, but don't leverage every resource you can. Social Media can be a new opportunity for many businesses, they just haven't figured out, yet, that the power is in their employees. I refer to companies that block sites like Twitter and Facebook as "social media ostriches". More here http://bit.ly/smostriches
troop1028
· 1 week ago
Companies are blocking myspace but most of them are supporting the use of facebook and twitter, where do work today?
Debbie
· 4 days ago
I work in a public library that has public use computers. Facebook is blocked on the kid's computers so they cannot use it under age, although lots of them have FB accounts underage. Wikipedia was blocked on all computers for a while while management freaked out about its authenticity! It's now allowed on adult use machines only, but staff are instructed not only to not recommend the use of Wiki, but to actively warn all PC users against it - we need to tell people how "dangerous" it is.
All Comments
What's funny is that they have a display ad running on this very page:
"..We're on facebook...become a fan..."
Very apropos.
Then they realized they were missing out on networking ... so they flipped the coin and allowed it for 'business generation uses'.
Idiots.
As for employers who block social networks, I wonder if they have seen any productivity gains from this action.
But I understand why employers are trying to limit time employees are spending online for private matters instead of, you know, work.
BUT i was saddened by this that a lot has been using internet but they don't know what a BROWSER MEANS?! shocking! but its not too late. share this link world"wild" spread THIS!!
Employers who really want to feel "in control" may want to start confiscating personal web-enabled cell phones.
Youtube comes and goes. BBC iPlayer works fine. I can watch an episode of Eastenders if I wanted too. No problem.
I get the impression that as things keep coming and going, they keep changing their minds and don't really know what they're doing. The CEO even started a Facebook company page which was odd seeing as we can't get on it at work. No ones going to bother going onto it in their free time.. Seems like he is contradicting himself.
I know people bring in their own laptops with dongles or check on their phones anyway so it doesn't make much difference..
Twitter, Facebook and other social-networking sites are part of the modern way of doing business in my point of view.
There are people that abuse the privilege of being able to surf the internet during "downtime" and they ruin it for everyone else.
Companies also need to realize that social media is BIG and not jumping on that wagon to help your business means passing up on a big opportunity.
To sum it all up: employees need to be more responsible and companies need to stop being so ignorant to social media!
If people aren't doing their job does it matter how they are not doing it?
In my experience, companies that keep their employees from peering out into the world also spend a fair amount of time with their fingers in their own ears trying to be sure nothing negative gets in, either. All that truth gets in the way of navel-gazing.
Say it with me: "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. I can't hear you."
If anything else, I heard a rumor that Facebook, MySpace and Twitter work on those newfangled cellular telephones now, too? Wow.
If companies exercised a fair use policy then they could possibly get the best of both worlds but there's bound to be staff that abuse it and spend all day using these things. After all, they're employed for a reason, to add value to their employers company and justify their cost to the company, not to be paid to spend all day working on their social life.
I seriously believe you need specific guidelines to give employees a good start into the world of social media - and for the company a first approach to integrate social media into their communications and corporate culture. If they've got a problem with Social Media, they should better cut off the internet for their employees instead of blocking twitter.
In my situation, for PR, I can't even think of a time without that amazing realtime info about our company (sevenload) or business related news coming from the twittersphere. On the other hand, we're a social media company... might be the reason why there's not this kind of direct blocking in our minds. :)
Otherwise it's an element of trust - do you trust your staff not to bunk off? If you don't why have they been hired? If you allow staff access equivalent to that of a cigarette break would that be an equivalent? - Could the IT departments put timers on access...?
Hell with phones the way they are now, if you want to play around there is nothing stopping you.
Oh and by the way if you are company worried about what is being said about you - get on those social sites and paint a positive picture - get fans, make friends - look after your brand!
Not every job benefits from Social Networking. One must ask themselves if what they are doing will benefit their business and enhance their job. If the answer is no, well, the rest is obvious,
@ki2mylife
Either way...it's certainly something that will change, whether or not companies want it to.
If you are looking for fun and adventure, visit http://www.ra23h.com