Re: [FCP-L] OT: Social media at work... ban it or embrace it?

Working for wage or salary is a pretty straight trade between
employee and employer: You barter your time and talent for money.
Employers are upset by surfing, texting, phoning, or any other
activity that subtracts from the time spent creating product,
regardless of whether it's the employer or employee's machinery being
used. In essence, a hire that spends a lot of time goofing off has
unilaterally renegotiated their contract, being paid more per unit of
productive time.

So, what to do about it? I'd start by reminding everyone that even
salaried employees are expected to honor their agreement to do work
while at your workplace, and see if that has the desired effect. One
could then ratchet things up by declaring that you've installed new
software at your internet hub, and you'll be logging and reviewing
who goes where on the web and for how long. I would think that anyone
still screwing around after that would expect consequences.

Or maybe do a softer approach, which would be a 'swear jar' type of
punishment for anyone caught shopping or social networking, fine 'em
a buck per incident & periodically pass that along to those with a
clean record. That would be a way for the employer to reward the
desired behavior and punish the bad without being viewed as a goon &
without spending any money.

Gotta go, I should be at work!

Dick Nelson
Silverthorne, CO
On Nov 20, 2009, at 5:51 AM, Tod Hopkins wrote:

> Treat people like adults. Expect them to behave like adults...most of
> the time. But don't assume that your behavior is the model for all
> adults. I like email. You like Twitter. Betty is a texting freak.
> BFD.
>
> Are we doing our jobs? Are we good at what you've hired us to do?
> Are we better than the kid you can hire for half our salary? Is the
> work getting done? These questions have not changed.
>
> Evaluate the whole person. Provide meaningful feedback. Limit
> restrictions.
>
> I'm curious why it bothers you that others are closing things when you
> come by. Do you have no desire for privacy? Do you never do anything
> at work you'd rather others did not see? Maybe I was doing my
> periodic, 60-second check of Facebook when you walked in, but I don't
> want you (my supervisor) to think I've been looking at Facebook all
> day, so I close it quickly. Duh. Would you prefer they continue
> checking up on their girlfriends while you talk with them?
>
> Freedom. Privacy. Tolerance. Why do these not extend to the
> workplace?
>
> Cheers,
> tod
>
> P.S. Porn, harassment, confidentiality... these are legal issues.
> They must be dealt with as the law proscribes.
>
> On Nov 18, 2009, at 11:26 PM, Mark wrote:
>
>> I can't walk through the office without hearing "click", "click",
>> "Click" as people hide Facebook, IM screens, personal emails or
>> whatever. I'm all for personal freedoms and
>> treating everyone like responsible adults, but at what point do you
>> say, "Enough!" ?
>>
>> Our current policy is open internet for everyone, but I've been
>> seeing enough evidence to make me seriously consider limiting
>> access. I'm curious what kind of policies most people have
>> encountered out there. Open access? No access? Limited access?
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>
>
> Tod Hopkins
> Hillmann & Carr Inc.
> todhopkins@hillmanncarr.com
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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