Is there a place for social networking in the workplace?

Recent research by Clearswift has brought to light a dislike among managers of office space in the City of London for the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter during the working day.

Almost a third of UK companies are now prevented from accessing social networking sites and this research shows that the number of companies banning these sites has risen by a fifth.

Businesses have taken different methods in securing that their staff do not abuse this rule within the office space. While moneysupermarket.com has issues guidelines on online conduct, Royal Dutch Shell have simply prohibited access to sites such as Facebook and Twitter by means of a pop-up screen reminding them not to access these sites throughout the working day.

Clearswift found that companies have enforced these rules as they are blaming social networking sites for recent incidents such as the loss of customer data from Sony’s PlayStation Network.

However, chief operating office at Clearswift, Andrew Wyatt, is of the opinion that social networking sites do not deserve the bad press they are subject to. He states that they “often have little to do with data-loss incidents, but they have become guilty by association, because they are seen as having an impact on a company’s brand”.

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