Social Media Censorship at Wor

Unfortunately, there are very few conclusive studies on the impact of social media on employee productivity. From the research that do exist, they are often mixed results. The most frequently cited study, which was held Nucleus Research in 2009 found a 1.47% loss in productivity. This study, which was based on very small sample of staff (eg, 237 randomly selected office employees) has led many managers and consultants to the conclusion that organizations need to limit or prohibit access to social networking sites.

Social media censorship, however, may not be the best, and certainly not the only alternative to the use of social media use in the workplace. In fact, the social censorship of the media may have a negative impact on the interaction of employees and productivity.

The economic rationale for allowing access

Employees are motivated to do meaningful work, autonomy in their work, and have access to supportive relationships and resources that they need to succeed. Social media censorship chips away at the autonomy, which manages employee engagement. Restricting or banning access sends a clear signal to employees: “You are not responsible enough to manage work and personal life, and your personal life.”

What happens when employers send this message? Mistrust and resentment and resistance (for example, secretly outside smokers to update your profile status on iPhone). These acts of resistance may prove more costly than just 1.47% decrease in productivity.

By allowing responsible access, your organization can build a trusting relationship with employees, keep morale positive, and use strategic business opportunities.

Regarding the use of social media in the strategic business opportunities

Here are some ideas to help you think about the strategic use of these communication channels.

1. Depending on your organizational culture, access can be an integral part of your employee communication strategy.

2. People talk about your company whether you like it or not. Why not allow for the officers to become advocates of your brand.

3. Leverage your employees’ personal network by posting useful information on the corporate blog, Facebook updates and / or competition to create public interest in your company.

4. Promoting the involvement of employees by collecting feedback from employees or Crowdsourcing challenges of staff.