Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) has been known to be both a distraction and an addiction by many people. So does it come as some kind of surprise that Facebook could adversely affect your work environment – not just your job security? Was there a need for a study on this topic?
OK, so we have all heard much lately about how posting certain things on Facebook can cause workers to be fired or could result in significant workplace problems in terms of the professional relationships in the office. But while many of those stories we hear are just anecdotal, apparently there are enough of these anecdotes that there is a suggestion that yes, indeed, using social media could play a role in a company’s culture and perhaps affect overall productivity and the environment itself. Fierce, Inc., reported results of a study involving 800 executives, managers and employees in a range of professional fields and asked them about the impact of Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) in their office environs.
Generally? Pretty negatory. And likely, not terribly surprising. What might be noteworthy here is the finding that more than half of the companies that took part in the survey had no official company policy regarding social media. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of workers in the survey admitted to logging into Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) at least once during work time. Social media has been around in some form for several years, and a good number of companies haven’t found it necessary to address this. Perhaps the results of this survey may enact a call to action?
Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) and other social media are supposed to be social – and maybe that is why there is a negative impact in the workplace. In the survey, more than half of those respondents said they were uncomfortable getting a friend request from a supervisor, while slightly less than that say Facebook does not make business relations better. In fact, 40 percent of respondents admit to gossiping or flirting with co-workers through Facebook.
Are you like us and collectively rolling our eyes over this study? And what do you think about social media policies? Should they be necessary in the wake of the results of this study? Do you, or would you, ban Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) from your office? Under what conditions would you allow it? Would a ban affect your company culture, and how? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and share your anecdotes regarding Facebook in the workplace.
DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.
