Why I wouldn't block Facebook

There are a few news stories regarding employers who are blocking social networking sites, this is a dangerous policy in my humble opinion!
First of all, for all the wise words on values at recruitment interviews or on the wall in the reception, this one action is saying "Despite your high salary, despite your talent, despite the fact I said I valued/trusted you....I don't - on this occasion I will treat you like a child.I will allow the actions of a few to determine the policy for all"

For me the problem is not overuse of Facebook, it is

• Why are people that bored with their work that they spend all their time on facebook?
• What are the managers doing? Why aren't the managers dealing with the people "abusing" the open culture? Facebook is no different to any other communication. If someone stands at the coffee machine for hours on end you would talk to them,discipline them if necessary but you wouldn't ban every person having coffee (I hope!)

I find the reason that companies make blanket bans is that their managers are afraid of handling the situation. Instead of banning sites, I would spend the time on management development - how to coach, how to handle difficult employees, communication skills, motivating people etc  I would spend time on ensuring you have people who can lead, who can inspire, who can motivate, who can manage their teams.....it would reduce the need for rules, policies and time spent on constant recruitment.

My 5 reasons for allowing access would be

1. I find if you treat people as adults they behave as adults
2. This is a great networking tool - think of how you can benefit from their contacts. Remember if you ban all those contacts will find out!
3. Social networking is part of society. If you ban the way many people communicate, you will create an employer brand that is old fashioned and has a culture known for lack of trust.
4. Recruitment will take longer and cost more....people don't want to join companies with that kind of culture.
5. It is a way of marketing your employer brand (why not have a facebook network or group), and a way of finding people in your organisation with social media skills, to coach others on the new tools.

Comments

[Phil Gerbyshak]

You make some good points Anna. One thing for any industry that makes employers keep a copy of all communications done from an associate's PC: social networking sites like Facebook is completely impossible to keep track of. Even the little "email this" links on news stories and commenting on blogs has the potential for clients to sue the pants off someone, all because a company cannot track what was said and from where. Just something to keep in mind when folks complain about "evil corporations;" let's not forget the regulators' requirements for records retention.

[Anna Farmery]

Phil, I think you make a good point, I also think it is time that regulation also came up to date. In reality a company has a process to track but rarley does unless something comes to light. My fear is that often people throw the baby out with the bath water.....too often we hide behind rules instead of handling the situation, too often we quote law when we spend many times trying to find a way around it from a HR perspective! Thanks for commenting

[Charlie]

It's posts like this that have made me bookmark this site.
Not necessarily about the Facebook stuff - overuse of Facebook is a symptom, and not necessarily the problem.
More the fact that leadership is such an important factor in business - and poor leadership is endemic. Especially in the area of motivating staff to not just do their job but go the extra distance. I nip onto Facebook around my work - time I would happily spend going the extra mile if someone would only recognise the work I do. My job is in an emerging part of the business yet no-one takes any interest until there's something wrong. I spend hours on a project and no-one even looks at it.
This is the kind of blog you wish you could direct to your boss - except it'd be like handing a self-help leaflet to someone in denial.
Keep it up Anna, just in case those errant bosses one day stumble across it!

[John]

Clearly blocking Facebook increases productivity. Why should employee pay for the wasted time at a jobplace?

Use software method (Website Block from Ashkon.com) and limited user accounts.

[Anna Farmery]

John - all I would say is that people said that about email, people said that about the internet...blocking Facebook in my mind is not right in the long term attraction/retention of talent. If people are abusing the time..then discipline as you would normally...otherwise look at how you can embrace the new technology for the good of the business. I find the businesses blocking Facebook are ones with weak management and leadership...companies with strong management deal with the people who abuse the trust and make rules for the majority not the minority...just my view!

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Want to block Facebook from work?

This software http://www.timedoctor.com/1 is better than blocking Facebook as it only monitors Facebook in work hours. Team members still can use Facebook when on lunch. Also some employees must use Facebook for their work so it's silly to just indiscriminately block it.

[Account Deleted]

For me its really unnecessary to block Facebook.

Ive been using http://bit.ly/bJwmma . It uses a better method than blocking social media sites because it only tracks sites like Facebook in working hours. People/Employees still have the option to use it for a breather or during breaks so its really unnecessary to block it. Sometimes they use it for work too in helping reach decisions.