Social Networks: Friend or Foe?

By Amelia Denson, PepperDigital

Who knew updating your Twitter status could help increase work productivity? A new study released from the University of Melbourne says that using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube actually helps workers.

Dr. Brent Coker, the author behind the study, said that when workers use ‘Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing’ they are 9 % more productive than those who don’t.

Dr. Coker added, “People need to zone out for a bit to get back their concentration […] Short and unobtrusive breaks, such as a quick surf of the internet, enables the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total net concentration for a days work, and as a result, increased productivity.”

Makes perfect sense right?

Those companies who block social networks should take notes from Dr. Coker and rethink their social media policy. Not only does social networking increase communication among employees, it also helps an organization recruit potential employees.

Public companies are not the only organizations that shy away from social networks, governments do as well. An article from last week’s New York Times points out that while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has a Facebook page, their employees aren’t allowed to access it at the office and must wait till they go home. Why have a page in the first place?

At Peppercom, we have established a flexible and moderate social media guideline that protects our organization and its employees. We have used Facebook and Twitter countless times to organize events with co-workers. It helps us form bonds that exist outside the Peppercom offices.

Comments

[johnrhopkins]

Thanks Amelia!
Do you have a link to the study? I took a minute to look and wasn't able to dig it up.

Also, and this is especially true in government, the freedoms that they do have in this area will likely be taken away due to knee-jerk reactions of those that don't see the value. There will also be many many instances where response to the actions of one or two of those people with highly addictive traits dictate the policy for everyone in the agency. I've seen this in action.

[Tracey Wik]

Amelia:

Thanks for this new research. Where did we inherit this conversation about work that productivity has to look a certain way? It is up to those of us working in organizations to help leaders and employees overcome these outdated methods of working.