One of the most discussed topics in employee management is the use of social networks. While most businesses are against the idea of employees using social networks, some companies believe that it is useful for promoting work, recruitment as well as other things that a company can gain from.
Many employees argue that they can share important professional information via social network usage. For example, when a programmer is looking for a snippet of code that he or she may not on hand, a fellow programmer can easily pass it through social network chat. In this way a company can save time by leveraging the knowledge of those who are not even employed by the company. However, the counter argument from employers entails the need to curtail this communication because the gains are far smaller than the losses, as employees waste a lot of time chatting casually with those who simply do not serve the company’s interests.
Company’s Gain from Employee Social Network Usage
As opposed to general social network communications, employers agree more with having social networking communications that benefit the company. There is a way of breaking even so that employees do not feel restricted and so that companies can also gain. In this way, employees will be in touch with their peers, and since they share common ground largely on professional terms the company can gain from this communication.
It’s a well-known fact that peers play a crucial role in an employee’s happiness at work. An academic study at Monash University highlights the importance of work social networking in terms of helping employees cope with stressful situations at work.
Some companies are known to implement a network for communication within the company. This can be established across a local area network easily, and really is an old idea that some employ today. The benefit of having such communication allows more rapid communication between employees sitting in other departments. Sending files and messages is convenient and more efficient. It can also lead to better relations between employees and lead to a more cohesive working environment, which is something that would favor organizations.
Types of Network Communication within Organizations
As opposed to local area networks, some employers allow the use of Linkedin.com and Facebook too. The reason: they believe that this freedom allows employees to be more open and honest with them as opposed to sneaking behind their backs and accessing these networks on their smartphones. Linkedin in particular can have pretty good benefits professionally speaking as employees can share company opportunities with their contacts on Linked, or on Faceboook too. This openness is appreciated on both sides; however, there are limits as well since employers would want their working hours to be accounted for too.
Today’s openness in using social networks to retain employees is part of a school of thought that leads to better employee engagement. Employees who are skilled with social network usage are an asset to a company that can use these networks for promoting the company.
