Block Facebook or not?

[petho]

I have a small company (6 employees) and I ask myself whether to block facebook access to my employees or not. There are many stories about how the facebook is a no1 productivity killer and only that fact is a good reason to block it. On the other hand blocking can cause unhappiness among employees. I am not sure what to do! What is your opinion about this issue, should facebook be blocked in office?Assuming that facebook is not used for business purposes.

 

[marketingquotes]

Hi There,

This is a difficult one - and is really a personal choice.

We use a 'use and abuse' feature - so people are allowed 'reasonable' access - but if it is abused then fb is removed.

As you say, if it blocked, it causes unrest.

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support.

 

[stugster]

Why not compromise with them.

Block it from 9am to 12, enable it for a few hours, then from 2pm block it again until 5.

 

[AdamJ]

Are your employees doing what is expected of them? If so, then no reason to block it. If not and you find that large amounts of time are being spent on it ask them why they are spending so much time on it, and if things don't improve then block it, but don't just go on what the media say.

 

[Beachcomber]

I cannot believe so many threads here and elsewhere treat this issue as some kind of dilemma.

Employees are paid to work.

If your business uses facebook to network / gain business then it should be accessed - if it is irrelevant to the business in which they work then why the hell should they expect access?

If you paid a taxi driver to take you home would you be happy for him to pull up and text his mates for an hour?
Would you be happy to queue out the door of your bank because all the tellers were caught up in a 'who's best, Ninja's or Pirates?' forum discussion??


Come on people - no wonder why so many businesses are struggling, they are too busy wringing their hands and worrying about the poor little lambs not being able to 'like' their friends comments and see the latest pic of them falling over drunk.

Simple fact is, you are there to do a job.
You are trained up and paid to do a job.
If you struggle, you will get assistance and extra training.
If you are unproductive because the job has such little value to you that you would prefer to play farmville then get out and let us get a proper employee in the door who will make the most of their opportunity to work and get on.

Next we'll have some smart arse taking their employer to court claiming facebook access is a human right.

 

[wecandobiz]

My advice is not to block it, but to make it clear to your staff what your policy is for use of Facebook, the web for their own ends, personal use of email, work telephones, use of their personal mobile in the office and all the rest of it.

They are no different.

Like I wouldn't ask staff to leave their mobiles at the door, so I wouldn't block Facebook. But you pay them to work. Have a "fair use" policy and allow them to use it at lunchtime, for example, but make it clear that anyone who wastes time doing ANY of the things that are a distraction will be reprimanded.

Most importantly of all, ensure it is effectively communicated, inlcuding writing those clear rules into their contracts.

 

[scribe]

I have a small company (6 employees) and I ask myself whether to block facebook access to my employees or not. There are many stories about how the facebook is a no1 productivity killer and only that fact is a good reason to block it. On the other hand blocking can cause unhappiness among employees. I am not sure what to do! What is your opinion about this issue, should facebook be blocked in office?Assuming that facebook is not used for business purposes.

What they do in their own time is there business. What they do in your time is your business, and your paying for it.

 

[warnie]

Easy, just allow use of it at dinner and break times, If they use it at any other time when they should be working then they're effectively stealing from you. Why should you pay them to social network. If they have time to go on facebook then perhaps you should look at cutting their hours?

 

[DiscoverCRM]

Facebook is like the pub, its should be for out of working hours and never the twain should meet.

 

[andygambles]

Surely it is a breach of Human Rights to block FaceBook

 

[KateCB]

Whats Facebook? Seriously, I don't have an account, never will have, don't have time to 'social network' and post inane comments that are meaningless.....work is for work based activities, end of story.

If it isn't making you money, then it doesn't have a place.

Facebook can be accessed by mobile phone now, my daughter uses hers to access it at lunchtime, so they can use their ' smartphones' if they REALLY, desperately can't be parted from Facebook for the duration of their working day....

 

[Davek0974]

Unless it's used for your business, block it. It is a serious waste of your business time and therefore money. We had a slack attitude to the Internet and it started getting abused, we installed control software that only allows acces to company relevant sites, all other access is barred.

The same with the phone and private calls, we found people making premium rate calls, not once but repeatedly. We now block all premium rate numbers and many others too.

There were very few complaints and after a while it was all accepted as normal and people get on with their work again. It may sound draconian but you are not running a social club or chat room, it's a business, if people have too much slack time you either have too little work or too many staff.

If we could block mobile phones i would do that too, it's not a right it's a privilege at work, texting, calling and photos waste a lot of time.

In return, we only work a 7-1/2 hour day, have two paid 15 minute t-breaks and 30mins for lunch, plus a good holiday package.

 

[MASSEY]

Block it full stop. Are you employing children or adults?

 

[OnAGutshot]

Facebook, emaiil, BBC Sport, what's the difference? These are all time sappers but you have to trust your workforce not to take the mickey here. How are they using the site? Speak to your IT support provider (I take it you outsource?) and identify when and how often it's used and start speak with the staff using facts.

It's just too basic to ban it, you need to get their buy in on this one, else whether it's right or not, they'll feel their human rights are being infringed in some ludicrous way.

Explain that you don't want to ban it but that the use of it affects the bandwidth and performance of the company IT (we did this during the World Cup with regards to the iPlayer and it worked) could the staff please curtail the use of it during core working hours and restrict it to lunchtimes and breaks. If this fails to have an impact remind them once more before banning it during core hours as a last resort.

 

[Davek0974]

Facebook, emaiil, BBC Sport, what's the difference? These are all time sappers but you have to trust your workforce not to take the mickey here. How are they using the site? Speak to your IT support provider (I take it you outsource?) and identify when and how often it's used and start speak with the staff using facts.

It's just too basic to ban it, you need to get their buy in on this one, else whether it's right or not, they'll feel their human rights are being infringed in some ludicrous way.

Explain that you don't want to ban it but that the use of it affects the bandwidth and performance of the company IT (we did this during the World Cup with regards to the iPlayer and it worked) could the staff please curtail the use of it during core working hours and restrict it to lunchtimes and breaks. If this fails to have an impact remind them once more before banning it during core hours as a last resort.

Sorry but I fail to see where these apps and timewaste technology fit into the working day?? You go to work to work to get paid, to even think about logging in to facebook during work hours shows contempt for your employer and that you feel Internet fun is more important than retaining your job.

Block it.

 

[Beachcomber]

It's just too basic to ban it, you need to get their buy in on this one, else whether it's right or not, they'll feel their human rights are being infringed in some ludicrous way.

This kind of thinking is exactly whats wrong with issues like these.

Bosses / management are in charge, not staff.
If they whine and whinge about not being able to access facebook then put the ball in their court - tell then to put together a business case for it, see how far they get.

 

[Davek0974]

This kind of thinking is exactly whats wrong with issues like these.

Bosses / management are in charge, not staff.

Sadly a lot of times this is what is missing from the work place. Too touchy-feely, tread carefully and wrap them up in cotton-wool crap. Bosses and management should be in control, all of the time, its their duty and job in the workplace.

 

[gmoto]

If your business uses facebook to network / gain business then it should be accessed - if it is irrelevant to the business in which they work then why the hell should they expect access?

If you paid a taxi driver to take you home would you be happy for him to pull up and text his mates for an hour?
Would you be happy to queue out the door of your bank because all the tellers were caught up in a 'who's best, Ninja's or Pirates?' forum discussion??

It depends on the people working and their general working conditions.
If the same people may have worked the previous evening until 1am to meet an important deadline and aren't expecting any extra pay for this; then seems quite fair that you allow some latitude the other way.

If everyone clocks out at 5:30 on the dot and is expecting over time for working five minutes in to their lunch time; then it seems quite reasonable for them to not be doing anything bar working for you in the allocated time.

 

[More Control]

I can understand if your company is using FB for marketing purposes. But aside from that, there is no need for allowing FB during working hours.

I agree that you pay people to work, not spend their time socializing. If you setup guidelines from day 1 on what people can view and not view on the internet then you will not have a problem.

If you give an inch, your employees will take a mile and before you know it you will have employees spending all their working day discussing and arranging aspects in their social life and as a consequence, you will see productivity drop.



regards
Stephen

 

[irima]

If it's not used in business purpose then it should blocked. You pay them to work not to waste time on social networks!
I block it in my company so that it's accessible on breaks, I think this is a best solution and it's done with software (FB Limiter)

 

[Beachcomber]

It depends on the people working and their general working conditions.
If the same people may have worked the previous evening until 1am to meet an important deadline and aren't expecting any extra pay for this; then seems quite fair that you allow some latitude the other way.

If everyone clocks out at 5:30 on the dot and is expecting over time for working five minutes in to their lunch time; then it seems quite reasonable for them to not be doing anything bar working for you in the allocated time.

If a company is regularly asking staff to work to 1am for no extra pay then they have bigger problems than worrying about facebook access.

 

[lizstrutt@sixt]

I have to admit that I think there is only one was the facebook should be used during working hours and this is if it being used to offer an increase level of service or business generation for the business.

With the smartphone technology people can access facebook for personal use first thing in a morning, during the lunch break and all evening/night if they wish. They should not be doing it during the hours you are paying them to work and support your business. You wouldn't let them invite their friends into the office for a chat during the working day and letting them go on facebook is really no different.

If people don't have smart phones, perhaps access as a lunch time only would soften the blow but in such a tough market you need to ensure that your employees are giving you a 110% at all times and whether you realise it or not, the personal use of facebook in working hours will hinder this.

 

[fisicx]

Sheesh, only a bunch of office workers could get all squiffy over this.

Be thankful that you have internet access, there are millions of workers who don't even have this privilege. If you NEED to access facebook (or any other site) for personal use then do it in your own time on your own phone.

 

[andygambles]

you need to ensure that your employees are giving you a 110% at all times

100% will do unless you have invented a new form of mathematics.

 

[gmoto]

If a company is regularly asking staff to work to 1am for no extra pay then they have bigger problems than worrying about facebook access.

Extreme examples - but in many cases staff may often come in early/stay late/work their lunch hour when things are a bit busy, but then expect to be able to leave early another day if nothing urgent's on for a doctor's appointment, or even spend a bit of 'work' time personal-browsing when stressed.

If I was managing a relatively unskilled 'office' environment I would like to consider (not saying it would work) a system where people can take breaks at will by setting their computer to 'break' - at this point they get unmonitored internet access. Any internet access while in 'working' mode IS monitored and any non-work site visits is likely to lead to disciplinary action.

 

[imadam]

i'm surprised people say if they can't get access to facebook whilst at work this will cause unrest. people need to really get a life if that's the case i can't imagine if something bad actually happened to them how they'd cope with it.

 

[Davek0974]

i'm surprised people say if they can't get access to facebook whilst at work this will cause unrest. people need to really get a life if that's the case i can't imagine if something bad actually happened to them how they'd cope with it.

Exactly, as i said, I would ban phones too. Imagine how productive this country would be if people were actually focused on their jobs and not worrying about texting, Facebook, twittering, and so on. People got on just fine before this technology arrived so why not now?

 

[Fuzzy]

I cannot believe so many threads here and elsewhere treat this issue as some kind of dilemma.

Employees are paid to work.

If your business uses facebook to network / gain business then it should be accessed - if it is irrelevant to the business in which they work then why the hell should they expect access?

If you paid a taxi driver to take you home would you be happy for him to pull up and text his mates for an hour?
Would you be happy to queue out the door of your bank because all the tellers were caught up in a 'who's best, Ninja's or Pirates?' forum discussion??


Come on people - no wonder why so many businesses are struggling, they are too busy wringing their hands and worrying about the poor little lambs not being able to 'like' their friends comments and see the latest pic of them falling over drunk.

Simple fact is, you are there to do a job.
You are trained up and paid to do a job.
If you struggle, you will get assistance and extra training.
If you are unproductive because the job has such little value to you that you would prefer to play farmville then get out and let us get a proper employee in the door who will make the most of their opportunity to work and get on.

Next we'll have some smart arse taking their employer to court claiming facebook access is a human right.

So took the words out of my mouth

 

[Fuzzy]

PS: Petho, can I come and work for you?

 

[buyingbureau]

Internet access at work is a privilege and not a right. In return employees can be expected to be monitored. I am no expert on computer traffic monitoring packages but software such as Time Rescue (and others of their ilk) seems to offer the ability to analyse out how time is used which could be useful for a fact based discussion about the matter.

On the subject of how time is wasted the net needs to be cast a little wider. As a buyer I often struggle to find account managers who, to judge from the mobile phone background noise, are not working from home on Fridays.

Then there is the company car. I feel conflicted. I have spent a considerable amount of time buying fleet management and car leasing. More recently I have made extensive use of conference calls and trains and increased my productivity as a consequence. I guess I am arguing that there should be no sacred cows in the quest for productivity.

 

[movietub]

Our policy (on everything, not just FB) is that staff can do what they want so long as a reasonable amount of work gets done for the business and they continue to make the business money.

It's a really simple policy. Quite simply, I don't care if someone loses us money because they are poor at their job or because they spend 3 hours each day on FB/Texting. They will be fired because they failed to be affective, not for any other reason!

To be fair, all of our guys are great and very loyal/committed. I accept that socialising is less organised in advance these days and is more 'real time'. If I receive a FB alert at work I would check it and probably respond, same for a txt message. I imagine almost all business owners on here would do the same and they would not accuse themselves of not working hard enough!

By cutting my staff the same slack, I think I get the best out of them.

Also one thing that is ALWAYS overlooked in this debate: It's simply not possible to run a business in the style of a Victorian mill owner these days. All sorts of issues mean you have to be very careful about what lines are drawn in the sand. The skill of the modern employer is not to take away the toys so the staff have to work for you, but to make them want to work for you as a team. Achieve that, and FB becomes like a drinks cabinet - I have a drinks cabinet at home, yet I'm not an alcoholic. If you can't trust your staff, if they don't respect you and work hard, FB is not your root problem - it's a symptom.

 

[headshotlondon]

I dont think blocking Facebook would solve anything at all. As long as they are doing their jobs and doing them well If they dont want to work, they will not do their jobs properly with or without Facebook. In any way if you remove Facebook then what are you going to do about Twitter, MySpace, Personal mail or mobile phones?

 

[Davek0974]

I dont think blocking Facebook would solve anything at all. As long as they are doing their jobs and doing them well If they dont want to work, they will not do their jobs properly with or without Facebook. In any way if you remove Facebook then what are you going to do about Twitter, MySpace, Personal mail or mobile phones?

The rest are easy, it's the mobile phone that's the tricky one....

 

[movietub]

The rest are easy, it's the mobile phone that's the tricky one....

I once worked at a place that told us we had to put our mobiles in a locker during work time - but the lockers had signs on them saying that owners took no responsibility for the lockers contents and that we chose to use them at our own risk :|

Since the management seemed unsure about the message they were giving I decided to simply keep the phone in my pocket on silent - until they made their mind up!

I imagine that these days taking a phone of a member of staff is not really possible - it raises to many potential privacy/data protection issues. i guess you could ask employees not to bring them into work full stop, but I reckon most employers like being able to get hold of staff on their mobiles if they need too.

 

[bediwin]

Block it full stop. Are you employing children or adults?

If you're employing adults, why is it necessary for you to take technical measures to block (say) Facebook rather than simply say "It's there for work. Please don't abuse it"?

It's not like there's a shortage of sites you could waste time on. Assuming it's practical, it'd be much easier to block everything and ONLY allow access to specific sites rather than the other way around.

 

[movietub]

If you're employing adults, why is it necessary for you to take technical measures to block (say) Facebook rather than simply say "It's there for work. Please don't abuse it"?

It's not like there's a shortage of sites you could waste time on. Assuming it's practical, it'd be much easier to block everything and ONLY allow access to specific sites rather than the other way around.

Two very good points! The first, look at who you have working for you and consider the real problems you have made for yourself (as an employer) if your staff are either so unmotivated or hate you to such a degree that they would rather take the p*ss than earn their own wage...

Second point, why just ban FB? What are you actually saying? At best your company is taking an biased approach to a specific external organisation whilst letting it's competitors have free reign, and at worst,you're basically admitting facebook has managed to interest your staff to a greater degree than the work you are supposed to be achieving together.

 

[Davek0974]

I don't think it is just Facebook, it's the Internet in general, access is easy to control.

I don't believe a lot of the comments being made here, I work in a company of 104 staff, I don't know ONE person that is so motivated that they would rather work than waste time on FB et al, it is human nature to not want to work.

Whatever way you look at it, more work can be achieved without the distraction of free Internet access. It's also unfair that in some jobs you can't do it, our office staff get similar pay to some of our manual workers but the manual workers have no chance of accessing the net whereas the office staff do - easy option is to prevent access and all are equally happy.

It may sound draconian but work is a place for work not socialising or time wasting.

 

[movietub]

I don't think it is just Facebook, it's the Internet in general, access is easy to control.

I don't believe a lot of the comments being made here, I work in a company of 104 staff, I don't know ONE person that is so motivated that they would rather work than waste time on FB et al, it is human nature to not want to work.

Whatever way you look at it, more work can be achieved without the distraction of free Internet access. It's also unfair that in some jobs you can't do it, our office staff get similar pay to some of our manual workers but the manual workers have no chance of accessing the net whereas the office staff do - easy option is to prevent access and all are equally happy.

It may sound draconian but work is a place for work not socialising or time wasting.

So in a workplace of 104 staff all of them don't want to work? And you think the Internet is the problem!? It's not human nature to not want to work, it's just human nature to react to certain situations by not wanting to do something.

Regards the manual workers, are they not using fb on their phones?

 

[MASSEY]

It's not human nature to not want to work,

By banning the net completely you stop people taking the executive decision to kill a bit of time playing on the net. The tempation is too much for most people...

More people are in jobs where they do enough to "get by" rather than be active and show an interest.

 

[geets]

I think it's in your best interest to restrict use on the site, to improve your companies productivity. I think the best way to keep both you and your employees happy is to block facebook for all hours except around lunchtime maybe 12 - 2 this way you have it unblocked when your employees are on their lunch break so you are not paying them to be on facebook.