More than 36 million individuals are on Facebook and various social media in the Philippines. Most check their accounts everyday– during breaks, the commute home, and even while on the job. Employers have been known to put their foot down on social media. But does that truly help improve business?
The Case for Facebook at Work
A study by the University of Melbourne discovered that employees who regularly surf the net during business hours are more productive than those that don't. As long as their personal Internet use are within reasonable limits, workers are more productive. Harmless web browsing helps people break the monotony of work and get back with renewed focus. Another experiment saw the productivity of Internet browsers increase by 39%.
Allowing Facebook browsing also helps attract and retain new talent. In a survey, 40 percent of college students and 45 percent of young employees declared they would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility. Keeping the new generation of employees happy will also boost company morale and thus productivity.
Lastly, with the rise of mobile Internet, an employee can still check out Facebook on his phone, which the company can't prevent. This send the message that he can ignore company policies in general, causing more problems in the long run.
Why No Facebook
Facebook is a huge distraction from work. Hours can be lost just browsing and clinking through the various articles and quizzes shared on the feed.
Additionally, quickly hopping from Facebook to work isn't effective. People simply can't multi-task and do everything well. All tasks are performed poorly and work suffers. It's better to do one thing and do it well.
What Will Your Company Choose
Both sides have convincing arguments and it can be difficult to find a middle ground where today's online behavior meets productivity. Determine what's important to your company and its ideals then keep to your decision.
What is your company's policy? Does it work? Would you like to change it? Send us an email or drop us a message in Facebook or LinkedIn page.