Social Media at Work

Nowadays, be in communication is quite important. We have many kinds of media to be in contact every moment in every place. It is possible to talk or to write with someone and wait for his or her answer immediately. Sometimes, this condition could bather us, what about the mobile phone at the cinema? Additionally, there are other annoyed practices that people do without care for someone else. This issue is more important if we think that it could influence on the efficiency of the workers. Do these kinds of interactions really make influence on our productivity? Thus, should the access to the social media be regulated at work?

The social media issue has increased wildly around the world, and its influence is remarkable everywhere. Usually, the social media are related with technology computers, mobile phones, and tables. Moreover, a lot hours are used for billions of users getting into the social media for different purposes, longer than 1.32 billion monthly Facebook's users according to John R. Carlson et al. Specially, young people and new workers are involved in social media having more than one profile and spending between 3 and four hours per day (Carlson). Thus, the social media interaction could significant a benefit from the work performance if this is used in concordance with the necessities of the company, and also it “allows people to be effectively engaged [into] positive work-related behaviors [and}relationship-building behaviors”(Carlson). Hence, today a major quantity of companies are encouraging the social media among their employees.

In addition, a major investment is done for the people to be adapted for the requires of the social media, all the devices previously mentioned are constantly improving, and sometimes they are provided for the employer. Then, the employers need to create a good technological environment that “is evolving at a dramatic rate due to the introduction of new and changing technologies” (Carlson). So, it is necessary to implement rules about how to use these devices and technologies protecting the employer investment and the workers' rights. At that time, it appear two issues who is the owner of the ideas posted and what the employee can post on the social media without breach the patron's interest.

Referring about the privacy of the ideas or concepts posted on social media, users need to know that their ideas and concept posted become public once they are placed. Hence, everyone can use them for good or for bad. Also, courts around the world have ruled that it would be published (“Twitter Messages”). Besides, it could use against the user if this contains offensive or injurious material. This issue is more important when it is talking about post did through public devices or once which belongs to a company, because the responsibility could be shared.

Although, the companies, especially the bigger, know the responsibility they would have for a bad use of social media networks; They are still improving and growing their outlay in social media and technological devices. Because, they believe that it must give more profits than problems. According to Lawson, Catherine the Royal Bank of Scotland has announced a pilot program which supposed to enroll more than 100.000 employees on Facebook. The reason is that it will enhance a clear collaboration between the different branches of the institution.

In this sense, many companies have created rules to regulate the form how their employees use the social networks, either the own or like theirs. Thus, some of them are claimed the right to review the employees' social media during the time when he or she is working. For example, some trials have been realized. And, some courts such the European Court of Human Rights, have decided to give the reason for the company alleging that the employee “had breached the company's rules and that his employer had a right to check on his activities” (Rawlinson). So, when the employees are using a social media network during work hours, it is possible for the boss to require to know if his or her activities or posts are related to the job. Surely, the employee has the right to know what is the company's politics about this issue.

To conclude, the social media networks are an important issue, such for the people and for the companies. When an idea or concept has been posted in a social media network, it should be understated like a public and everyone can use this. Moreover, because it is a public idea the person who posted it, could be responsible. Furthermore, the owner of the device through it was posted could be responsible. Despite that, the companies have been investing in social media networks and the correspondent technology; They claim the right to know how their employees are using the social media networks during the working hours. Important courts have recognized the right of the companies to know what the employees are posting during their jobs. At the same time, the employees have gained the right to know what is the company's rule this area.

Works Cited

Carlson, John R., et al. "Social Media Use in the Workplace: A Study of Dual Effects.". Journal of Organizational and End User Computing (JOEUC). Web 14 Jan. 2016.

Lawson, Catherine. “Online chatting at work gets the thumbs up from bosses”. BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation 2015. Web 14 Jan. 2016.

Rawlinson, Kevin. “Private messages at work can be read by employers, says court”. BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation 2016. Web 14 Jan. 2016.

“'Twitter messages not private' rules PCC”. BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation Technology 2011. Web 14 Jan. 2016.