Why Facebook Isn't Making You Any 'Friends' at Work
Social media is causing problems at work and it's not with the boss. In fact, it's other employees who are irked by their fellow workers' personal social media use, and it's starting to hurt productivity.
According to a new survey by work force solutions provider Kelly Services, more than half of workers say social media is negatively affecting workplace productivity, with 57 percent believing that mixing personal and professional connections through social media has the potential to cause problems.
The research revealed a growing number of employees feel there is nothing wrong with fitting in some personal Facebook time during the day. Overall, 14 percent of Gen Y workers believe it is acceptable to use social media for personal use while at work, compared with 13 percent of Gen X employees and 10 percent of Baby Boomers.
Despite the dip in productivity, just 2 percent of employees have been told to stop using social media at work.
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The study also shows a number of employees are using their personal social media accounts to talk about company business. Nearly 15 percent of the employees surveyed think it is okay to share opinions about work with friends and colleagues on social media.
"The reality is that the spread of social media in the workplace is occurring faster than any rules designed to manage it," said Steve Armstrong, senior vice president and general manager for Kelly Services. "While many employees are quick to see the benefits, employers and managers are still grappling with a host of complex issues relating to privacy, monitoring, and access to sensitive business information."
The findings are part of the latest survey results from the Kelly Global Workforce Index. Nearly 170,000 people in 30 countries participated in the survey, including almost 23,000 in the U.S.
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