Should employers prevent staff from using social networking sites at work?

 

Trade union leaders in the UK says managers are entitled to stop people using the sites during the working day but there should not be a total ban.

 

Some firms have already blocked workers' access to the sites or disciplined staff for misuse of the internet. Earlier this week, Kent County Council banned its 32,000 employees from using Facebook.

 

Employment Law Advisory Services, which provides advice for employers, said access should be for business use only.

 

 

Do you use Facebook or other Internet sites while at work?

 

I don't use such sites. Would think it's up to every company to decide as they wish.

Something along the lines of 'employees not to use the internet for none work related activity during work time' would seem sensible to most.

I don't think they should be using internet sites other than work related ones while they are at work, as it is a distraction from their actual work, they arent being paid to check out their face book, they are being paid to work. So it is completly understandable for employers to block or restrict acsess to these sites.

I dont think that employers should have the right to restrict access when the worker is on a lunch or tea break, to me, that would be totally unnacceptable, employees should be allowed to do what they want in their own time, it would be easy for an employer to check that they were only accessing non-work sites on their own time by looking at the History logging in times..

At the last place I worked for that had a net ban it was not enforced and employer turned a blind eye to it as long as it did not involve porn or downloading stuff (instant sackable offences) and as long as the employee got all their work done

 

As long as the work is all done I see no problem in net use at work for personal reasons

At the last place I worked for that had a net ban it was not enforced and employer turned a blind eye to it as long as it did not involve porn or downloading stuff (instant sackable offences) and as long as the employee got all their work done

 

As long as the work is all done I see no problem in net use at work for personal reasons

 

Exactly.. If someone gets all their work done, then why not..?

 

totally agreed. it's like all things - if you work hard and efficiently then you gain certain privileges, but of course if they are abused then you won't be trusted with it again.

but then i'd hardly be surprised if the government didn't do something about it...they seem so keen on banning anything and everything that isn't 100% good for us/productive :(

i'd hardly be surprised if the government didn't do something about it...they seem so keen on banning anything and everything that isn't 100% good for us/productive :(

 

Totally Bry, this Govt are such utter control freaks, that I half expect them to do exactly that...

 

totally agreed. it's like all things - if you work hard and efficiently then you gain certain privileges, but of course if they are abused then you won't be trusted with it again.

but then i'd hardly be surprised if the government didn't do something about it...they seem so keen on banning anything and everything that isn't 100% good for us/productive :(

 

Completely impractical and highly unlikely! This is a matter for companies and their employees. The government wants to portray itself as sympathetic to business so it's not going to introduce legislation that takes the decision-making out of the hands of employers - get real!

sorry - i said it slightly tongue in cheek - it didn't really come across!!

The government wants to portray itself as sympathetic to business so it's not going to introduce legislation that takes the decision-making out of the hands of employers - get real!

 

Just to play Devil's Advocate here - surely most businesses would just love it if the Govt came up with some sort of law against employee misuse of Company Internet connections, it would surely be PRO-business, not anti.. It would be anti-employee, not anti-employer

sorry - i said it slightly tongue in cheek - it didn't really come across!!

 

Perhaps we need a tongue-in-cheek smiley!

Just to play Devil's Advocate here - surely most businesses would just love it if the Govt came up with some sort of law against employee misuse of Company Internet connections, it would surely be PRO-business, not anti.. It would be anti-employee, not anti-employer

 

With a name like Grimly Fiendish, playing Devils' advocate seems only right!

 

I think companies prefer to make their own decisions. In high-flying jobs (the City, creative sector, etc) I expect a go-anywhere internet connection is just another perk of the job.

We should! All I was meaning is that the government (IMHO) are increasingly keen on nannying us to the nth degree taking decision making out of our lives!

yeh we should be able 2 use them the UK is getting c**p cant do nothing anymore!

yeh we should be able 2 use them the UK is getting c**p cant do nothing anymore!

 

 

You think employers in other countries let their staff have unlimited access to social sites? Ha!

you are being paid to work, not indulge in personal frivolity, so in works time NO. these sites are very addictive and are a distraction from work, id be highly sceptical of letting workers doing it even in their break time.

you are being paid to work, not indulge in personal frivolity, so in works time NO. these sites are very addictive and are a distraction from work, id be highly sceptical of letting workers doing it even in their break time.

 

Oh come on mate, that's being a bit OTT. I dont think that any employer has the right to dictate what an employee does in their own time, that's going way too far IMO, you're guilty again of giving employers ALL the power and employees absolutely NO power or rights at all if you go down this path... What next..? Employers telling their staff that they cant go out for a few drinks after work "just in case" they get a hangover and aren't absolutely 100% on the ball the morning after...? Hey, let's go the whole hog and allow employers to randomly blood or urine test their staff "just in case"....

 

I only work for 8 hours in a day, I should damn well be allowed to do what the fukk I like for the other 16 hours mate....

 

totally agreed! i don't get paid for my breaks so (within reason) i will do what i like in them. my workplace recommend that people do not smoke (even outside) as there are a lot of customers and potential customers around, but they cannot stop people from what they do in their own time.

the point is (to grimly and bry) that when an employer employs someone they expect 100% commitment from the employee. its better for all concerned that people all work hard in that time.

 

of course you can do wtf you want to in your own time, but, if it effects your employed time (like being hung-over) then the employer DOES have a right to step in. if i employed people id want workers who did a fair days whack for a fair days wage, why should others carry these deadweights?