So many Virginia businesses rely on computers and the Internet in order to function optimally. But just as being connected to the web can have a beneficial effect on your business, so can it also have a detrimental one.
Here's one reason why: Having easy access to all of their favorite social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter, can cause your employees to spend valuable, on-the-clock time cleverly updating their statuses or e-stalking their crushes when they should be hard at work! Even employees whose job duties don't involve the use of a computer can goof off on social media sites during work hours; any smart phone affords access to the sites, so employees can use their own personal technological devices to upload a sexy new profile pic when the supervisor isn't looking.
Making the matter even more complex is the fact that most businesses rely on social media sites to stay engaged with their customer base and attract new patrons. So how does a business owner negotiate the fine line between asking employees to share posts, tweets, and photos concerning the business on its designated social media sites and forbidding those employees to take peeks at their own sites?
The temptation to check out your own news feed can be strong when it's only a click away, and you're certain it will only take a second. Of course, the notable thing about social media is how swiftly the seconds morph into minutes, and then hours. In fact, a recent survey by an employment agency revealed that one-third of workers admitted to using social media for one hour of every workday.
What's a business owner to do? How can you ensure that you get the most productivity out of your employees now that we live in the Facebook era and commerce is social media-driven?
Here are five tips:
- First, establish clear-cut rules about the role of social media at your place of business. Will you only allow employees to access social media pages for and about the business, but not their personal pages? Will you allow employees to use company computers for personal use during their breaks? Make sure to express the rules to employees both verbally (during new-hire orientations) and in writing (include them in the employee handbook). Remind employees of the rules as needed.
- Put computer workstations in high-visibility areas. Make it difficult for employees to surf social media sites for personal reasons without being seen by colleagues or supervisors. Needless to say, workers are less likely to give into temptation if it's likely they'll be observed.
- Use website blocking software to prevent access to all social media sites on all of your business's computers but one. Use that one to manage the sites pertaining to your business, and assign that task to just one or two employees.
- Make your place of business a cell phone-free zone for all employees. Allow employees to use their personal phones only during breaks.
- Relax and trust your employees. Hire good people with consciences, strong work ethics, and stellar references. This way, you won't have to micromanage your employees while enforcing rules like a tyrant! Expect that some employees will likely spend a small amount of time looking at their own social media sites each day, but resolve not to react unless you see productivity slipping and, at that point, react on a case-by-case basis, rather than punish all employees for one slacker's overindulgence.