Facebook, Myspace, Twitter And Blogs: How To Manage Social Media At Work

A recent article in the Globe and Mail described how Canadians spend on average approximately 43.5 hours a month on the Web, which is, according to data released by a Web research firm comScore, almost twice the worldwide average of 23.1 hours.¹ With numbers this high, employers have to wonder: how much of that time surfing the Web is done during working hours and involves posting comments relating to the workplace?

In addition to lost time and productivity that employees may be spending mindlessly checking their Facebook page (or 'creeping' their friends' pictures) during working hours, the dramatic increase in social computing has mounted a number of challenges for employers. As more and more employees choose to create or participate in blogs, wikis, online social networks and other forms of online publishing or discussion boards, employers are confronted with unique disciplinary challenges for online conduct both in and outside the workplace.