Diversity in the workplace: Boon or distraction? Social media is no longer a novelty. Ordinarily, any conversation should be conducted in a similar manner it would be communicated in a real life situation. A survey of 237 corporate employees showed that 77 percent of them checked websites during work hours. The Arabian Affiliate. This can help a great deal to curb the excessive internet usage. This complementarity improves team and employee performance. The rise of social media. Conversely, only about one-in-five (18%) characterize it as having a positive impact, including just 2% who say it is very positive. This essay on The Impact of Social Media within the Workplace was written and submitted by your fellow Advantages Of Using Social Media In The Workplace 1. Clearly there are risks associated with allowing your employees to use social media in the workplace. Improves employee engagement Allowing employees to take short breaks for social networking throughout the day will boost mood, which will potentially increase employee engagement. However, some studies have shown negative effects of social media use in the workplace. Issues around social media in the workplace are becoming more prevalent and we have seen an increase in enquiries which include situations where employees have posted controversial content, where the companys name is linked to the employee in questions personal account. This subject will discuss the primary reasons companies allow the usage of social networking sites in the workplace. When claims of this nature have been made, strong evidence of misconduct is required i.e. The data of 322 valid questionnaires from respondents was . When providing some information, an individual often believes that, his/her opinion is right and acceptable. If an employee posts negative comments about a customer or client online, this may damage the relationship between the company and their client/customer, who may opt to not use the companys services or products moving forward. As recent statistics reveal, 81 percent of the U.S. population had social media accounts in 2017 - up nearly 20 percent from four years prior. Therefore, moral values and ethical considerations need to be observed, as they affect the effectiveness of such communication. Social Media can also lead people into spending too much time online which could eventually cause burnout such as stress levels increasing and feelings of depression intensifying. People lose track of their work and their attention is diverted to Facebook posts and other social media attractions. And in addition, at least 25 states now have their own legislation covering employee privacy on social media. Such addiction has a telling effect on productivity. A further study by the Pew Research Centre (2016) found that staff used social media during work hours for many purposes, the top four reasons being: to take a mental break from work (34%), to contact family and friends (27%), to develop their professional network (24%) and to help solve work problems (20%). Nevertheless, most include a blanket clause in their employment contracts to the effect that workplace surveillance may occur. (2020) 'The Impact of Social Media within the Workplace'. Employees are able to communicate more freely with co-workers and social media communication can go a long way to enable collaboration across departments. Adults online who say they participate in social networking has increased from 8% in 2005 to 72% in 2013. platforms in workplace have negative impact on the efficiency and productivity of. Despite this, the benefits most likely outweigh the risks. Ethical concerns should also be exhibited by the employers. Other individuals then get to know more about this particular user. Mark Craemer March 24, 2017 No Comments. In this sense, they will avoid conveying information that would hurt the recipients of such information, or any other party that has access to such information. This is mostly true for those who are usually recluse and dont get much traction in real life. No business can afford to simply opt out of this debate, which at least means developing or refining policies to address the inappropriate access of private social-media at work. They might also begin to see their co-workers as friends, which can increase their satisfaction in coming to work every day. Web. In a test, heavy social media users found it more difficult to shift focus between tasks than those who used the platforms moderately. Observing the organizational values and codes of conduct will enable the employees to operate smartly towards the realization of the companys objectives. Moreover, it is desirable that all the users of social media sites should show some sense of maturity, just like in a real life encounter. By joining the network within an institution or the larger WWW, an individual exposes his computer to attacks that would lead to loss of information stored in the machine (Yale University, 2009). People are bragging about everything under the sun. While it can certainly be a boon to company marketing efforts when used appropriately, social media use can also be a drain on employees' productivity. The Internet age has led to enormous changes in the way we communicate in virtually every aspect of our lives. The reach of social media is ever-expanding and there might be hardly any workplace in the digital age which has not been influenced from its magnetic appeal. More generally, the UKs Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) says that Some estimates report that misuse of the internet and social media by workers costs Britains economy billions of pounds every year and add that many employers are already grappling with issues like time theft, defamation, cyber bullying, freedom of speech and the invasion of privacy.. It resulted in a 1.5 percent decrease in productivity. If you are not going by the rule book, it may strike you at any moment. Phone +32 2-808 54 56 Reduces Employee Productivity 2. What Are the Employer's Benefits of Employees Working at Home? The disadvantages of using social media at workplace are: Brings Down Productivity Spending too much time in social media or being addicted to social media has its own demerits. As people and colleagues start following them or putting Likes in their posts, they start basking in a false sense of popularity. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-impact-of-social-media-within-the-workplace/, IvyPanda. This led to increased productivity as the social media-savvy employees could make sales in less time, work in teams more effectively, and solve problems more efficiently. 2. 13 January. Social media is pervasive. Can You File a Lawsuit for Verbal Harassment? A further study by the Pew Research Centre (2016) found that staff used social media during work hours for many purposes, the top four reasons being: to take a mental break from work (34%), to contact family and friends (27%), to develop their professional network (24%) and to help solve work problems (20%). January 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-impact-of-social-media-within-the-workplace/. But use of social media. If employees post opinions that are found to be discriminatory and involve any of the protected characteristics, including race, disability, or religious beliefs this may be deemed as gross misconduct leading to dismissal. Indeed, a good understanding of the emotions of others enables one to identify a piece of information that is likely to hurt others. However, this is acceptable if the employees use the resources responsibly. I'm lucky that I don't have to deal with a lot of company email or internet related distractions, except for between flights and even then it may be a . As with everything the company needs to ensure they are not discriminating against any of the protected characteristics when dealing with opinions shared on social media, for example, the persons religious beliefs. Long-Term Living: For the Continuing Care Professional, 59(10), 32-35. This is what has lent credence to the notion about the impact of social media at workplace. Social media plays an important role in workplace communication. Not only does it distract the mind, it also leads to waste of precious time which could have been otherwise used productively. professional specifically for you? There is also a negative side of this when lesser social shares can degrade the overall business credibility by leading it to negative social proof. Our site uses cookies. Whether you argue there are more benefits or disadvantages to a world run on . Just take a look at these stats: 98% of employees have social media for personal use. In fact, it is unethical to monitor the activities of employees without their knowledge. Firstly, the sender of a piece of information should take precautions to ensure that the information will not hurt the recipient. Work-oriented and socialization-oriented social media are complementary resources. The very obnoxious impact of social media at the workplace is the breeding of jealousy among colleagues. Second, it should consider how it and its employees use social media for the company's business objectives. Some of the things you stand to gain from allowing or encouraging social media use at work include: 1. This article provides an indepth understanding of the ways social media may be used and in some cases abused by patients and social workers. The use of both company devices and privately-owned smartphones, the blurred distinction between work and leisure time as well as the advent of more comprehensive privacy legislation have made it more difficult for employers to formulate an appropriate response. Benefiting people. Communicating with other companies and experts. Furthermore, where unchecked private use of social media occurs for a significant period, this may then be construed as (unwritten) company practice. Organizational Commitment & Job Performance. Online activity, and social media access in particular, can be electronically monitored either in individual instances or globally throughout the workplace. So that's 7.5 hours a week, over 30 hours a month and 390 hours wasted a year! Social media for your company allows you to connect with your consumers or audience, enhance your brand, bring attention to your products or services and network with like-minded people, both locally and nationally. 1. Sims, D. (2010). However, the retrieved information should be revealed only in the event that it is deemed dangerous to the operations of the organization. A social media policy can be developed for inclusion in an employee handbook, which states the business stance on social media in the workplace. Different people understand life differently. They lose attention and productivity. This study proposes and tests the . Social media plays an important role at work places. It will help your employees focus and do some productive work. Social media in the workplace can also have a positive impact, check out the examples below; Recognising employees work on social media helps them to feel valued and appreciated. 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, the studys author, Brent Coker, stated at the time. A breach of confidentially can occur when an employee shares information such as the companys finances, client lists, or employees personal information on social media. It will strengthen their confidence and happiness and make them feel valued. Yet another study found that workers were spending, on average, 32 percent of their time on social media at work every day. Given that the stored information is of importance to both the employees and the management of the organization, it is important to protect the information from loss. Plus, you can employ a social media manager to check internet use at the workplace. Yet these technologies have also reframed the workplace, and usually presented employees with an opportunity for small-scale private gain at their employers expense: a source of free pens, the chance to make and receive private phone calls, check on real-time sporting updates, and more. Communication. There is also a need to ensure security of the information contained in these media, since some of the information is essential for smooth running of the organization. A study published in Computers in Human Behavior in 2017 noted that time spent on Facebook is positively linked to job satisfaction. In addition, it provides an interactive platform, whereby, individuals can converse uninterrupted. In recent months, several US states have already enacted legislation which mirrors the GDPR. Our team of HR consultants will begin by reviewing your employee handbook to establish the businesses expectations and workplace policies for employee conduct on social media.
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