Comments on: Are Twitter, Facebook et al killing our businesses?

By: silverwink

silverwink — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 11:32:41 +0000

Whether an application is blocked or not, self-control comes from within

Ive been using http://bit.ly/bJwmma .
It uses a better method than blocking social media sites because it only monitors sites like Facebook during production hours. People/Employees still have the option to use it for a breather or during breaks .
Sometimes they use it for work too in helping reach decisions. For me its really unnecessary to block Facebook.

By: click me

click me — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 03:41:46 +0000

This software program Time Doctor uses a better method than blocking Facebook as it only monitors Facebook during work hours. Team members can use Facebook during lunch breaks. Also some employees must use Facebook for their work so it’s silly to block it.

By: Gavin Moorhouse

Gavin Moorhouse — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:58:07 +0000

I have massive respect for Theo. As a small business owner, I listen when he has something to say. I see where is coming from, but we also use the likes of Twitter for promoting the business so it isn’t all bad. I think a reasonable use policy is best, let staff check their accounts at lunch will give them motivation and ensure they knuckle down the rest of the time.

By: Powernumpty

Powernumpty — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:22:11 +0000

I monitor web use at work.
It’s company stated policy and mostly it’s a non issue if the people concerned are mature about work in other ways (if you run out of pens and post-it notes all the time start checking the web usage).
The comment about “shopfloor at John Lewis” is a telling one, in times past we were probably better off working hard to get beyond a job than be distracted by the ever present pretty lights of netland.

I had an “Assistant” for a short while, he didn’t last long as he was always hiding stuff on screen when I arrived (despite multiple requests not to) turns out he was a “healer” on some RPG, obviously work took a poor second place to virtual life and death.

By: Andy Dring

Andy Dring — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:36:53 +0000

I think that the ebst way to deal with this is to have time-based limits, either by allowing acces between say 12 and 2, or allowing say 15 minutes browsing of particular classification of sites per day. That way, users aren’t left feelign bereft of access, but HR can be assured that staff are allocating appropriate amounts of time to work/leisure. It’s not even an IT function to decide, it should be set in policy by HR and only implemented by IT.

By: sheila

sheila — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:39:32 +0000

The issue here is people spending more time on personal issues using work computers during work time instead of working, I couldnt help but wonder is there a need for all computers at businesses to have internet access? One place I was in had only a handfull of PC`s with web access while others just hooked up to the internal network this meant that useage could be tightly monitored and people checked personal stuff during breaks or lunch.IT departments should consider something similar if not just grant web access to those who only need it for work related matters and this problem will cease to exist

By: Nick P

Nick P — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:09:52 +0000

I look after our web filtering (well, the network generally, actually), and we have a ban on Facebook. I would rather adopt a more rational approach with usage allowed during lunchbreaks etc., but we’re stuck with a TRULY crappy webfilter that doesn’t allow time filtering or sliding windows for personal use. I had the funding approved for an upgrade to something decent, but then the banks lost everyones’ money… I would rather enable usage by setting sensible policies in place than ban it, but unfortunately I can’t at the moment.

By: Statto

Statto — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:24:56 +0000

Sorry – that should have said….we can’t do one and not the other! Important apostrophe.

By: Statto

Statto — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:23:52 +0000

This is a tricky one. I manage a department in an organisation where social networking sites were banned, but are now not – not because we want to let staff use them per se, but because we have a desire to use the medium in communication with our “clients”. However, we can do one and not the other. Our IT policy allows people to use the ‘net during their beaks. The reality is people do use it at other times. I’m OK with that providing it’s not affecting our ability to get the job done – not just at an individual level, but at a team and departmental level. I also don’t want to be in a situation where as a middle manager I’m accused of obviously having too many staff because they spend time on the ‘net doing personal stuff. It’s the perceptions that need to be challenged.

By: Bob Hallewell

Bob Hallewell — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:27:54 +0000

Surely the issue isn’t so much around how much time people spend on Twitter, Facebook, smoking (or wasting time on email) – but whether or not they’re doing their jobs.

If they meet their targets, fine. If not, they need managing.