Should Companies Allow Social Media at Workplace? by Hussain

In the article "The Debate about Blocking Social Media in theWorkplace" Shel Holtz, specialist in communication and technology, states that companies should not band social media at workplace due to several reasons. For example, banding social networking at workplace would cost companies a lot of money. Another reason is when staff can access social media, there will not be any negative influences on their productivity. Further, there are benefits to condone using social media at workplace because business tends to rely on the internet in the future. Holtz    argues that there no benefit if employers band social media at workplace because everyone today has smartphone, so the band will not solve the problem and it will cost more money. However, Holtz mentions that company should concentrate on employees' productivity. A study was conducted by Brent L.S Coker, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne (2011), shows that employees with social media access are more productive than those employees without social media access. Holtz points out that there are always some employees who waste some of their work hours even if they do not use social media and those are exceptions. Supervisors need to treat these exception.

Productivity is a crucial factor for firms in order to maximize its earnings and senior managers of businesses have serious concerns about potential issues of using social media which could adversely affect business operations. Therefore, senior managers do not advocate and resist using social media at workplace because social media hinders employees’ productivity which leads to some loses for firms. However, Holtz's view is opposite as he mentions in his article, there is a study shows positive influences on employees productivity, using social media at workplace.

From my point of view, one study is inadequate to generalize the idea that social media has positive effects. We need intensive studies to measure social media effects in wide ranges not only in certain work environments but also in various types of work environments and fields. For example, in service sectors perhaps social media plays effective roles because employees would communicate better with customers through social media. As a result, employees' productivity could increase and these employees would take social media advantages. On the other hand, in gas and oil sector using social media probably do nothing to increase employees' productivity and also it could adverse result. I remember my friend who is working in gas's company when he told about how it is risky to use cellphone at workplace. It could cause a large explosion. Therefore, I would not agree with Holtz about social media because we need to determine what kind of workplaces that social media would enhance their work environment and their productivity.