Trends are changing, and it seems as though more and more companies are now allowing employees to utilize Social Media sites on company computers and servers. Banning sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+ have seen a reversal and now many are allowing their staff to access these sites. In the past two years alone, usage at the workplace has increased by 20%. More and more, employees are using social media sites as a release at work, much like having a coffee break and the effects are similar. Here are 5 reasons why you should allow your employees to use social media sites.
1- Improved efficiency and productivity. There is no way anyone can work a full 8 hour day straight. As much as companies would like to see their employees work like robots and be productive and happy throughout the day, it is just not realistic. Studies show that employees energy levels and stamina improve by as much as 25% after taking breaks throughout the day. We live in a digital world now whereby people socialize in different ways. Gone are the days where everyone congregated around the water cooler to discuss what happened on the weekend or the score of the football/hockey game. We go to Facebook or Twitter because that is where everyone is and where we can get instant news and information.
2- Increased Loyalty. Banning social media usage at work sends a message to employees that you don't trust them. If they feel you don't trust them, then they certainly will not trust you as a company. Loyalty today is a word I do not hear often, yet retention is an important thing to a business. To recruit, hire, orient, and train a new employee can cost a company upwards of as much as $3500- this for an entry level position. So with that in mind it is should be in the best interest of your HR department to retain and keep your employees happy and loyal.
3- Improved Employee Satisfaction. Your best fans are your employees. This reason is hard to grasp, but if your employees are happy, efficient, and loyal to your company, then it shows when they talk to your prospects and clients. Your employees are on the front lines, and if they seem disgruntled because you don't trust them enough to allow them the freedom of choice when it comes to their break time, it will come across to your clients. A satisfied employee is worth its weight in gold, embrace it and you will reap the awards ten fold.
4- Attracting the right kind of talent. Generation X and Y individuals are very tech savvy. They have handheld devices, tablets, etc. They use their devices to socialize, to communicate, and to find things. These individuals want to work for a company who is modern, upbeat, and one that accepts the digital and technological world that we now live in. If you want to attract the right type of employee to your company, you have to be willing to allow employees to use social media sites at work. If not, then you risk missing out on recruiting talent.
5- Workplace Harmony. I can usually sense what kind of culture exists at a company within about 30 seconds of being at reception. Peace and balance within a company is crucial. Running a company with an iron fist like the Gestapo and threatening punishment to an employee for using Facebook will not create a harmonious workplace. Where does it end? If you ban social media, do you ban fraternizing at work? No talking, no eye contact, no nothing? The average employee is not going to spend all day on Facebook or Twitter. Studies show that at most, people spend maybe 15-20 minutes a day liking, sharing and commenting on social media. That is equivalent to one break.
If a workplace has a pleasant environment built on mutual trust, understanding, and fairness, you will have a happier and more productive workforce. If you do not have a social media policy in place for employees, then it is time for you to seriously consider having one that encompasses allowing your employees to use social media at work.
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