Will you allow your employees to access Facebook in your workplace? Or will you ban it? Or will you penalize (or even terminate) them if they are able to successfully access FB in the office?
Check out Facebook Banned in Cavite Capitol.
All computers and laptops at the capitol building were reconfigured and reconnected to a single server, “for us to see whoever opens his Facebook (page) at work,” said provincial information officer Joan Loyola in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Here are some thoughts / questions:
1. Since these devices are reconnected to a single server, then why not configure the server to block all attempts to connect to Facebook?
By doing this, you no longer have to spend extra time monitoring who opened their Facebook page at work, because they will be unable to do so anyway.
2. What if your employee accesses FB using their cell phone during office hours, will you penalize them?
3. What if your employee uses their cell phone during office hours to send sms/text to family and friends? It’s not business-related, so let’s ban the personal use of cellphones; afterall, there were no cellphones before, right? 🙂
Work/Life Balance
Have you met employees with superpowers who can remain productive every second or every minute of their 9-to-5 existence at the office? Most likely, no.
People usually have bursts of creativity when they can remain focused and highly productive for timeframes of 30 to 45 minutes at a time.
When you force yourself to remain “productive” beyond this productivity window, you’ll discover that you get diminishing returns.
That’s why it is important to take occasional breaks. It readies your mind for the next task, plus it gives you the chance to improve your health especially when you take a walking break (e.g., stand up, get away from your computer, and walk around for a few minutes).
Why Do People Use Facebook
Basically, to connect.
True, Facebook did not exist before. The human need to “connect” has been there for so many centuries, though.
You used to have the neighborly chat over the fence, then postal mail letters, then the telephone (“oh no! productivity will take a hit!”), then the cell phone and SMS texting, then online Instant Messaging (Yahoo! Messenger), and now Facebook and social media networks.
Facebook and Productivity
Why not put it to the test?
See if productivity dives if people access FB. Or see if productivity really goes up when there’s no access to FB.
Please keep in mind, however, that people are different.
Some thrive and “get into the groove” when they have access to FB. This is pretty much similar to people who work better when they can hear non-business related music while they work.
Others, on the other hand, work so much better in a “quiet” environment free from “distractions” such as Facebook, Twitter, the internet, music, or friendly chats with cubicle neighbors.
In the end, it helps to carefully observe your people and understand what makes them tick. Then create an environment where they can thrive and produce excellent work.
Online Marketing Lesson: Don’t just try to guess the market. Test it.
Facebook, like most other tools, can be used or abused. The key is to find a way to maximize the benefits from FB, while minimizing the disadvantages or ill-effects which usually accompany addictive activity.
(Have you seen some people regularly preen themselves while they’re at their office desk? Fixing their hair or re-touching their make-up? So… do we ban personal mirrors from office desks? :-p)
Here are some things to try or TEST:
1. Allow FB access during lunch break or meryenda break.
2. Remove FB privileges when projects are delayed.
3. Increase privileges when projects are done well, and are completed on time and within budget. (Assuming the employee considers this a worthwhile reward in recognition of his/her efforts at work.)
How about you? Would you ban or allow Facebook in your office? Why or why not?
