A recent survey alleges that Indian firms are losing productivity because their staffers spend time visiting social networking sites at work.DNA asks if restricting access to these websites in office will make a difference.
Banning may not always work
Undoubtedly, networking sites affect the productivity at workplace. Lot of time is spent in putting up Facebook, Twitter and Myspace updates and uploading photos. Every technology comes with its pros and cons. And networking sites too are no different. Though banning the networking sites springs up as the first option, one cannot neglect the fact that these sites too have their own advantages. So, most offices prefer giving restricted access owing to which limited information from these sites can
be accessed.
— Pinaz Jagirdar, student
These sites are stress-busters
Stating that social networking sites act as a hindrance in the productivity of any company is erroneous. More often than not, the employees are aware of their duties and targets to be achieved within the given time frame. Being a manager, I allow my team members to access the networking sites. As, I do realise that employees too are human beings who need to indulge in some activities to keep the pressure off their minds. In productivity-oriented fields, making sure that the employees are relaxed at work
is essential.
— Abhishek Tiwari, brand manager
Different jobs, varying utility
Social networking sites definitely affect productivity at work as you are diverting time to social activities as against professional activities that you are paid to perform. A lot of companies are conscious of this fact and have blocked access to personal e-mail services, IM service along with social networking sites. But there are also professional networking sites like Linkedin, which act as a great tool for businesses. So it is important to segregate the social ones from the professional ones. However, few of them can be a useful tool for some industries, but a nuisance for the other.
—Aditya Shah, asst VP
People skip lunch to visit sites
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that people are addicted to networking sites. In fact, I have been witness to instances where people skip lunch hours so that they get to visit these sites. Instead of working, people are often found harvesting crops on Farmvillie application during office hours. Restricting or banning the use of these sites in offices can increase the productivity. Addiction in any form is never good. Prior to the networking sites, employees were seen whiling away their time sending text messages and sending email forwards was the craze before that.
— Tanuj Shah, businessman
Exercise other options to destress
In our company, networking sites are not active. We don't allow access to networking sites as it is a part of the policy of the company's Information Technology terms and conditions. We need to protect the secrecy of the consumer profile. All the employees can use our internal network whichis protected from any leakage of data or unauthorised activities. At the same time, we understand that the employees need a social life too, online or offline, so we don't stretch the working hours and we maintain fixed hours of duties. For refreshment or doing away with stress, there are other options and activities like common room with all modern indoor games and books. One doesn’t have to depend on networking sites alone to socialise.
—Ajay Bhola, GM (HR) Spanco Ltd
Why ignore the good aspects of these sites?
Since one has unlimited access to networking sites, it will act as a diversion. But let us not blame it on a particular site like Facebook or Orkut alone. Even porn is freely available and acts as a diversion, should that be banned as well? People employed in companies today are adults. They know what their responsibilities, targets and work schedules are. If all targets are achieved, then I don’t think we shouldn’t have a problem.
Also apart from Facebook, there are other social networking sites like Linkedin as well which are quite helpful. Let’s not just focus on the fun aspect, as there is lot of business that happens on networking sites too. Not just top known brand names, even a small florist or a lady making chocolates from home are using these sites to promote their goods and services and benefited.
So if a passion or hobby gets a wider reach via these sites, isn’t that great? Also, apart from varying from person to person, the use of these sites also varies from sector to sector. There are some fields which would not even require the use of e-mail in office. But all said and done, it’s not advisable to stop anyone from doing anything. There is a lot happening out there and networking sites seem a great medium to reach
out to many for a good cause as well.
—Moksh Juneja, Social media catalyst, Avignyata Inc.
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