Why being on Facebook at work is not a waste of time
Restricting workplace social media usage could make employees less productive, a new research has found.
Conducted by office supplies company Viking, the survey of over 1,500 office workers found that almost half of workers (48 per cent) procrastinate because of waiting for other people’s work to be completed. It also found that 40 per cent procrastinated in order to take a break from work and reduce their stress levels.
Further research from Viking has found that people who work in an office experience more stress then those who work from home, likely because working from home allows employees to take breaks more frequently.
The most frequently visited sites while at work were Facebook (57 per cent), BBC News (36 per cent) and Twitter (30 per cent), which indicates that workers use procrastination time to stay informed with current news. Facebook introduced its ‘trending’ news section on user profiles in 2014, while Twitter launched ‘Moments’ in 2015 for users to quickly find prominent news stories.
Gemma Terrar, European HR Business Partner at Viking, weighed in on the potential benefits that controlled breaks can have in a workplace:
“If an employee is struggling with their work, a quick break can help them take a step back and think about their situation in a new light. Rather than trying to press on through a challenging task, doing something that relaxes them or lightens their mood can help a worker stay productive in the long-run.”
“Each company is different, but many workplaces are becoming more open to a relaxed atmosphere that encourages taking breaks when necessary. Ultimately, companies want their employees to work to their full potential, so they should consider break and social media policies that balance the downtime and productivity of a workforce.”
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