The Positive Effects Of Social Media In The Workplace

In today’s society, social media has become such a big part of our daily lives, affecting not only our “social” lives, but our works lives as well. Social media in the workplace can be a valuable tool for businesses but it can also cause serious problems on the job. Employers are faced with the need to develop social media policies that allow the company to secure the positive benefits of social media use while minimizing the negative effects. Problems occur when employees abuse the ability to have Internet access for personal use during work hours, post inappropriate things which negatively affects their online presence, or issues can easily arise in the hiring process. Employers must decide if the use of social media outweighs the potential

Cheryl Conner, a writer from Forbes Contributors, said, "Whether it’s web surfing, engaging in personal phone calls, searching for new job opportunities, gossiping by the water cooler, shopping online, exploring social networks or checking personal email, a great deal of working time slips away. Of all workplace distractions, the Internet is the greatest productivity drain" (Conner). Allowing employees to access social media profiles during work hours can be a distraction and take away valuable time from work related tasks. Employees may lose this work time playing games, talking to friends or updating their own personal profiles on their social media accounts. To keep employees away from the distraction of social media while on the job, many companies have chosen to implement a social media policy to limit the use of the Internet and social media for things unrelated to their job. However, these policies are difficult to enforce if employees are allowed to use their personal cellphones or bring their own laptops to the workplace. If employees use it as a source of entertainment rather than a tool for communication, it can lead to lost productivity. This productivity loss and a lack of focus can lead to poorer-quality