In the day and age of the rise of information technology, social media serves as a powerful tool for communication for people in all areas of life. Work is no exception: many employees use social media during work to collaborate, share information, and search for solutions to problems. Bizzi (2018) states that research has shown: more than 80% of employees believe that social media improves relationships at work, with more than a half holding that social media supports the process of decision-making. These beliefs are the reason for many employees use social media to communicate with colleagues, even during the working day. Employers, in their turn, are reported to worry about social media being a productivity killer, and, as per Bizzi (2018), more than half of them in America reportedly block employee access to social media. However, there are those who seem not to be bothered by the issue and leave employees the opportunity to use social media at work, the reasons for which might be unclear to some.
When it comes to a possible perspective of employers with a more permissive attitude, there might be a few reasons for their position. For one, it is possible that companies view granting workers freedom to use social media as a way of providing support and showing trust. It is as if they say: we allow you to stay connected with whoever you want to, and we do not worry about it affecting your productivity because we believe in your honesty and conscientiousness. Another reason why employees might be free to use social media is due to the organization’s awareness of it being useful for communication improvement and knowledge sharing within companies. This way, even if there are undesirable consequences of such a decision, there is a guarantee that the benefits will occur too – and, possibly, they will make it all worth it.
Reference
Bizzi, L. (2018). Employees who use social media for work are more engaged — but also more likely to leave their jobs. Harvard Business Review.
Rodríguez-Aceves, L., Madero, S., & Valerio-Ureña, G. (2018). Perceptions about the usefulness of online social networks in the workplace. Estudios Gerenciales, 34(147), 149-157.