So, you are about to write a social media policy for your company. So many decisions to make…
If you allow your employees full access to social media sites during work hours, will they fritter away valuable time playing Farmville or Mafia Wars while your company 
slowly goes bankrupt?
Will banning social media sites during company time cause a riot in your company with employees banding together to poison your coffee – or at least steal your favourite mug?
Are these your only two options? Or is there a middle ground somewhere? (no, the answer is not to just ban Myspace – no one would really care anyway).
In an October 2009 study, it was found that 54% of companies ban social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Myspace. Only 10% grant employees full and unlimited access.
In a world that is being driven by open and transparent communication, a world where people’s thoughts and opinions have greater influence and power than ever before, where is there a place for “The Man” to block websites, cyber-watch and dictate employee’s actions?
The answer is that if you want to attract brilliant, interesting and engaged employees – there is no place.
In a world where information is king, where a single tweet or status update can topple a company’s or a person’s reputation, you can no longer cling to the illusion that you are in control.
Take a deep breath. Exhale. Let go. Got that? Ok, lets take it one step further… Embrace your lack of control. No? ok, one step at a time.
How can allowing access to social media sites during work hours actually be beneficial? Something to embrace? Simple. It can work in your favour. Don’t think of social media as a productivity drainer and time waster, think of it as your own secret cadre of brand agents let loose on an unsuspecting world.
You already know that people form opinions on your company based on every interaction they have with you, whether it is through your sales staff or your receptionist. But what if your entire staff was out in the world talking up your company? Would it be easier to attract valuable employees in the future? Would you have greater brand awareness? Increased revenue?
What if you could hire a group of people to spread your corporate message? How much would that be worth to you? Is it possible that banning social media could actually hamper your brand?
What if you armed your staff with the knowledge and understanding they need to participate in social media while helping to support your brand?
But what if my staff goes crazy and wastes hour after hour feeding their cows on Farmville???
Well, there is always that possibility. But that will very quickly make another benefit of social media access apparent – discovering who your most valuable employees are. As someone once said “if you cant’ trust your employees to use their time wisely, then you are hiring the wrong people.”
Useful links:
Alternatives to Facebook Censorship at Work
Why Your Company Can’t Afford to Ban Social Networking
Great article! Work 2.0 is a reality – it has changed customer service, communications, marketing, and workplace ethics. It means as much accountability for employers as it does for employees, since if they are not acting with integrity with their workers, those folks will have no problem saying so online. More transparency and more engagement – neither of those are bad things. Great thoughts, Carla!
Thanks Danielle, loving the comment love
It really is a changing and evolving world we live in, isn’t it? The concept of power and control is getting turned upside down. Gone are the days of keeping information and therefore power to yourself. People still try to do it, but inevitably it comes back to haunt them. Employers who try to control and police their employees will find their employees are going elsewhere.
This pretty much sums up the discussion that happens when a company’s trying to make this decision. The risk/benefits are a curious beast and depending on your approach it may blind you to one or the other.
Basically, you can accept, embrace, and take advantage of all these new channels… or bury your head in the sand and stay offline, pretend it doesn’t exist and see how long you last.
Speaking on my own experience… being ‘allowed’ to be yourself online makes for a happier employee. It eliminates the urge to be two-faced, grumbling in one arena while faking a smile for the company. Being trusted to just be a good net citizen will bring out the potential advocates in your company, as well as weed out the real time-wasters.
The last bit of advice I have for a company trying to embrace social media, try to understand it first. Don’t pull kneejerk reactions and invite PR hellstorms. If an employee seems to be making you look bad online, try to get to the bottom of it. There may be a reason behind it, and an opportunity for growth for both of you!
Related link – Tweetfired Animation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX2L5egeR7I)
Great points Jay!
It is fabulous to hear from the employee’s point of view – that is something that is often overlooked by employers. How would you feel if you were basically told you can’t be trusted.
Believe it or not, there was a time, not so long ago, when people were not given access to the internet at work because it was felt it was a time-waster, would distract people and lower productivity. Seems unbelievable but I swear I know someone who was just recently “allowed” to have an email account at work. Her boss felt her job description (finance) didn’t warrant one.
That video is hilarious lol! Although it might need to go with a language warning if people have kids hanging around
Great post, i belive blog posts like this add so much value to the marketing community,i have learnt some valuable nuggets from you. Keep it Up! Sincerely, The Social Media Trainer