Many employers encourage or at least allow their employers to use social networking during working hours if it's work related. Canny companies use the system well and deliver media releases and news campaigns via social networking (and RBF will be bringing you a workshop on how to do this yourself later this year).
Some larger organisations use Facebook as a means of employees getting to know one another over separate worksites and project groups - fantastic in a situation where you're working for a multinational, dealing with people overseas on a daily basis and want to put a name to the face.
However I had an interesting chat with a manager at the company I used to work for back in the 90s. No names mentioned but it was a big multi-national. He told me that the company had globally banned its employees from using Facebook in company time. Linked In, yes, that was appropriate, but Facebook was a 'time waster'. It was banned on their server and anyone who got around the ban, even during lunch break, was in firstly for a warning and then sacked for a second offence. Facebook is seen as a plaything rather than a useful tool. Employees are free to use it on their home computer...but even then company reps like the guy I spoke to search and monitor all employees who put the company name in their profile to ensure they are not posting damaging words or images about the company.
Is this overkill? What's the verdict on Facebook in your company?
Sabrina Ferguson
We love it! Great way to connect with customers and would love it if you followed us on twitter and facebook.
ReplyDeleteComment posted by Katy Patrick also known as @happinessatwork on twitter. Katy looks after TPR group clients in Ryde and Canberra. TPR is a national franchise network dedicated to providing healthy office corporate services for businesses around Australia with a focus on assisting employee happiness, well being and productivity in the workplace. For more information visit TPR Group