Manage How Staff Use Social Media To Improve Performance

Businesses must manage how their employees use social networking websites to ensure that they are working to full capacity.

Research by Acas revealed that the number of employees using social media at work has dramatically increased over the past decade as over half of staff now accesses sites such as Facebook and Twitter whilst working.

The conciliation service forecasts that social media as a work distraction costs the British economy around £14 billion every year through lost productivity as employees are too busy socialising with friends via the internet to concentrate on work.

Businesses must communicate clearly and effectively with their employees to educate them about the dos and don'ts of using social media and it is essential that they explain the possible disciplinary consequences of misusing the internet.

It is important that every workplace has published guidelines relating to social media and internet use and this policy can be inserted into contracts of employment so that employees are fully aware of the rules.

Alongside a social media policy, a business may also want to publish factsheets that include advice to managers about how to use social media when recruiting and managing employee performance.

It is not appropriate for managers to investigate a job applicant's social media profiles because this will leave them open to claims of discrimination that can prove costly and damage an organisation's reputation.

If a rejected candidate discovers that their social media profile was viewed by an organisation they can claim that they were turned down because of available information relating to issues such as sexual orientation and political views.

Organisations should avoid banning social media sites completely because this may lower motivation and employees are also more likely to use sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to contact colleagues and clients.

Constantly monitoring social media use can also prove costly as well as time-consuming and drain organisational resources which could be better utilised elsewhere in a business.

Organisations that are opposed to social media sites may want to establish alternatives such as open work forums where employees can communicate online in a social environment.

Performance improvement consulting professional can advise an organisation how best to manage an employee's use of social networking websites while enhancing morale and productivity.

The use of social media at work is an issue that is likely to grow in importance so it is vital that employers understand how to manage this in order to support and guide their workforce.

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Himsworth Consultancy is a leading Management Consultancy firm of senior business and consultancy professionals that specialise in delivering world-class customer service improvements, Visit http://www.himsworthconsultancy.com/ for more details.

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