Social networking tools such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have gained acceptance as a means of marketing and spreading the message online about companies their products and services.
A report issued this week by Nucleus Research suggest that almost half of office employees access Facebook during work, with some spending up to two hours a day posting comments, playing games and uploading lists that causes companies to lose an average of 1.5% of the working day.
With over 87 % of the surveys respondents unable to define, a business reason for social networking it becomes even more expensive than the cost of coffee nd water cooler breaks.
The research does not suggest companies should pull the plug on Facebook in the workplace but highlights a real risk for companies handling secure data where many users already know their corporate e-mail and personal accounts can be monitored by their IT departments whilst Facebook messages are not.
Yes, it does mean your staffs social networking account could be compromising your sophisticated e-mail monitoring software and communication policies.
The knee jerk reaction for many will or already has been to block Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and every other social networking site but before heading down that road think how easily an employee could pull out a web enabled mobile phone and carry on playing Texas Hold Em-Poker or Bejewelled Blitz or sending unmonitored e-mails.
Does you Company allow access to social networking sites in the workplace and if so how do you address the risks to your communications policy?