LearnStuff.com recently researched, created and published an interesting infographic on how social media is destroying productivity in the workplace. They write:
“As American students and workers spend more time on the Internet and on social media sites in particular, their levels of productivity are tanking. […] Every time someone at work gets an IM, a Facebook message or a tweet, it takes them a whopping 23 minutes to get back on task. Taken all together, that costs the American economy $650 billion per year in lost productivity.”
Though the study is for Americans, I would imagine it’s very similar for Canadians and other countries around the globe. Below you’ll find the infographic that LearnStuff has put together with their research. Take a look and answer me this: Do you feel that your employees (or you as an employee) spend too much time on personal social media accounts rather than working, and if so, what do you do about it?”
I’m very interested in hearing your replies!
Author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted keynote speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today’s leading organizations faced with the greatest risks. Learn more about Melissa and her work here.
There's a very simple answer to all the questions about the validity of social networks in the workplace. With technologies, our professional and personal lives are intertwined as never before. Here's how I illustrate it when in give presentations and I get asked the same question by senior government executives:
"why should I let my employees look at their Facebook account, at work, on my dime?"
my answer:
"Why should I look at your work email, at home, on my time?"
Haha! And how do they respond to that approach?
What I always find curious is if you block social networks from being accessed in the workplace, how are you monitoring your brand's social mentions – and what will be the case if/when a social media crisis strikes? Now THAT's a scary thought!
Some of their data is a little misleading/confusing? The second most popular "time wasting" site is LinkedIn. I'm not certain how it is used by college students, but I am hard pressed to equate time spent on LinkedIn with Facebook or IM'ing.
I wish we could find a way to reframe to discussion about social networks and distinguish between those that can/are used to collaborate for professional purposes and those are are spent talking about last night's bar hopping.
Loved, loved, loved Patrice's response. I will use that – with proper credit, of course.