14 DAY TRIAL // I have to say just from the beginning that I'm not one of those Facebook-addicted fans and I have only created an account for testing purposes. Maybe I'm a little bit subjective, but I can't really understand people's addiction to Facebook, and to social networks in general. OK, Facebook is great, I admit it, but from creating an account on such a website to quitting your job because your employer decides to block the page at work, there's a long, long way.
According to a research made by the people at Deacons, an Australian law company, almost half of the respondents said they would opt for the job with social network access if they are asked to choose between a company that blocks such websites and another one that doesn't.
"There are risks with social networking sites in the workplace, such as adverse impacts on productivity, as well as heightened chances of harassment claims. One response is to block these sites but that action carries its own risks. Our research suggests organisations need to weigh these risks and learn to manage them - as they have for other new technologies like email, instant messaging and the Internet itself," Nick Abrahams, head of Deacons' Technology, Media and Telecommunications law practice, commented.
According to the findings of the research, 14 percent of the workers with Internet access log in to their social networks account while at work. 20 percent of them said that their parent companies have blocked social networks while 57 percent stated their employers didn't impose restrictions. 23 percent of the respondents didn't know if social networks are available at work.
"Getting the balance right is particularly important in an economy with low levels of unemployment and intense competition for young talent. Short of blocking or restricting access to Web 2.0 applications in the workplace, organisations should at the very least implement employee policies and procedures for use of these applications at work," the official added.
So, this is clearly a problem and, again, social networks come in the spotlights. If a popular website such as Facebook can influence an employee in his search for a job, I guess social networks are really, really addictive. On the other hand, companies choose to block access to such websites because employees are tempted to spend too much time on them, which obviously reduces productivity.