Social media risks in the workplace

Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and different social media are some of the platforms that consume people’s time. This can lead to low performance at work since more often than not, tasks are put on hold as the employee replies to a text or laughs at and shares a funny video. However, social media can be regulated to increase employees productivity.
Lucy Asiimwe, the human resource manager, Ministry of Public Service notes that social media is not all bad. It can be a communication channel between management and employees, and among employees. “This communication can improve working strategies and has seen most companies grow, in terms of marketing. Social media is also a platform for sharing different types of information, which can improve employee productivity.”
However, Mark Bikoto, an information technology expert, argues that bosses and employees have used social media in the wrong way. “They use it to share loose talk and leak company information to competitors.”
There are more unobvious effects of unregulated social media usage at work.

Addictions
According to Asiimwe, addiction to social media results in employees spending a lot on airtime and in turn, producing low grade work. “Addiction to social media can cost you career growth since you will not have time to learn or cbe productive.”

Kills innovativeness
Most employees are less innovative these days because of social media, which does not give them time to think. “Every time they are to do something productive, a message clicks on their phones and the mind is diverted,” Bikoto says.
Once engaged in social media, the concentration of most employees reduces. “You can never get to concentrate with a thousand messages flocking your message box. You feel like replying one or all of them,” Asiimwe notes.
She adds that employees spend the morning hours – where they concentrate more – playing games and sending messages. An employee can also develop poor communication skills since they do not have time to interact with their workmates.

Regulating social media
Bikoto says companies could disable social media platforms at particular times of the day. “There are companies which do this from 8am to 4pm to allow for productivity. They only reactivate it after 5pm when they are satisfied with the day’s work.”

HOW TO REGULATE SOCIAL MEDIA

Employers understand employees may use social media for private purposes, but there are certain rules that employers expect their employees to follow.

Responsibility. Employees must be responsible about three things: the content they post; the audience their posts reach; and the potential effects of an improper post. A social media policy needs to inform employees to be responsible when posting, particularly about sensitive topics.

Etiquette. Just because information is posted on social media does not mean that it is absolutely protected by law. An employee who uses social media to harass, intimidate, or bully other employees runs afoul of an employer’s legal requirement to maintain a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.

Selectivity. When employees see negative posts about their employer, they feel compelled to respond. The decision about when to respond, what to say, and who the responder should be are decisions that need to be made on a corporate level.

Privacy. A good social media policy will prohibit employees from delving into truly private matters, such as, medical issues, leave, or identifying information about fellow employees, including identity card numbers or dates of birth.
Efficiency. Social media can be a major distraction for employees who overuse it at work. A good social media policy will make clear that although employees may periodically use social media at work, they will be held to the same expectations about their performance.

Confidentiality. Every employer has confidential, nonpublic information that could affect the employer’s stock value. A sound social media policy will restrict employees from disclosing that type of information on any social media site.
Transparency. The way that employers gain credibility with the outside world in social media is by being transparent and honest about their posts. Employees must know that when posting about their employer, they must identify that they are affiliated with the company.
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