Friday, February 13, 2009
A study by You at Work has shown that contrary to popular opinion, allowing employees access to social networking sites could improve their commitment or ‘engagement’ to their employer.
Younger employees in particular view work as part and parcel of their social lives, and those employers that discourage socialising at work by banning social networking sites are less likely to retain and motivate these critical employees.
Encouraging the latest generation of workers to socialise is critical for retention and motivation, with 76% of 16-24s saying they are less likely to leave a company that encourages them to do so.
The survey of over 1,000 office workers in the UK revealed that more ‘very committed’ employees spend more work time on non work-related emails, texts and instant messages than ‘not at all committed’ employees (68% compared to 44%). 80% of employees say they work harder when they get along with colleagues.
Currently 25% (7.7m) of employees use online networks to interact with colleagues, 43% (3.4m) of those are through external networks like Facebook.
The most popular social activities undertaken with colleagues are ‘eating out’ (53%), ‘going to the pub’ (42%), ‘cinema’ (14%), ‘concerts and gigs’ (13%), and ‘going to the gym’ (9%).
Social networks can prove more than a motivational benefit. 16-24s are ten times more likely to use external social networking sites to network with colleagues than the over 45s. However, the tendency for businesses to close down access to the technology networks that young workers consider essential is creating a turn-off. A third of 16-24s are frustrated about the restrictions their employer places over their use of the web, compared to 8.8% of the workforce as a whole.
Bruce Rayner, CEO at You at Work commented, “Employers risk alienating their most engaged workforce and their brightest young talent by imposing arbitrary controls on technology that they don’t understand. Managers would be much better off trying to understand what it is that makes online social networks such an integral part of their young workers’ lives and embracing it in a way that meets the needs of all parties.”