Social Networking And The Workplace

[lupestripe]

I have been thinking a great deal about social networking, particularly using twitter and (formerly) LJ, in the workplace. At work, I feel guilty if I don't employ my time to the company's end although I do occasionally use twitter when I am in the office. This is often during my lunch, on toilet breaks, or in very small intervals throughout the day. Normally though I am far too busy and rarely have time to post even if I wanted to. I do find twitter a huge temptation though, particularly if I have posted something on my way to work during my commute.

As I am in charge of the company's twitter feed I could easily get away with posting more but I don't due to the guilt. I have noticed that some people seem to be on twitter all the time though and never get censured. I imagine this is a combination of perception - they may not actually be on twitter all that much, it just appears they are - and the fact that the nature of people's jobs is different. In the IT industry I imagine it's easier to get away with and there are more natural breaks in the work day where there is little else to do as you are waiting on other things to happen before you can proceed with your own job.

I do find this fascinating though - what is your work policy to social networking? And do you adhere to it? I am interested in finding out.

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Comments

[fen-ra.livejournal.com]

My employer's policy: Twitter, facebook, instant messengers, non-company emails - all banned and blocked. Everything else is OK, as long as you're not mucking about when you are dealing with a customer. (I.e. speaking to them on the phone.)

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Do you get a lot of time for mucking about between calls?

[elfasi.livejournal.com]

I just do all such activities through my mobile phone, so the only company policy is to not waste all day fiddling on my phone and actually get work done. The nature of my IT work does lend itself to breaks and lulls though, and I read a study just the other day that said you actually get more productive as an IT worker if you take frequent 'entertainment' breaks. Play hard and work hard I guess. I don't take the piss and I get my work done, so while I'm often up to date on Twitter all day, nobody at work cares.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Yep I am with you. Even though I maintain the company's twitter feed, for some reason I always use my phone for personal tweeting. All a bit strange. I thought the nature of many people's jobs would determine the amount of time they tweet - certainly there seems to be a lot of tweets from people who nominally should be working, so that explains it.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

My opinion is that in moderation it's ok. The problem with Tw*tter is that it does demand to be checked up on ALL THE TIME by it's very nature. Which is why I operate a "best efforts" policy with it. If I see your tw*t all well and good. If I miss it; tough!

LJ is much easier to check at your leisure. So I can see how social media can be potentially more damaging to a company's productivity than shall we say some "older" less trendy sites *ahem*. Again, if I am between between jobs, and have my phone in my hand (or if I have something I want to post) I will indulge. Otherwise, I have better things to be doing at work. It really does depend on the day.

[junkshop-coyote.livejournal.com]

If I see your tw*t all well and good.

*SNERRRK* Sorry, I'm being 12 at the moment....

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Didn't David Cameron refer to it in this light too? I don't want to see his tw*t *shudders*

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, but it's like crack cocaine, so very tempting. LJ is far more sedate, which is one of the reasons why I like it. It doesn't demand your attention like twitter often does.

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I don't think we have any such policy, though I imagine we shouldn't claim to speak for the place, or otherise act to bring it into disrepute. Nothing's blocked, and nobody minds what you do, as long as you get your work done.

Funny how efficient the simplest policies can be. ^_^

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's pretty much the case for me too. I like my employer having the faith in me to allow such a policy.

[junkshop-coyote.livejournal.com]

I, too, just use my cell phone, which gets frustrating because the signal in the basement is crap. But like I always say, it's not the shitter without Twitter!

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Yep, I have the same problem. The signal on the shitter ain't fun for using Twitter!