Nothing can be more disheartening for a business owner than watching his employees waste time on social media rather than working. Productivity usually drops when anyone opens their browser; with so much time being spent scrolling through Facebook feeds and messaging one another on this social platform alone.
Assuming you already understand why blocking distracting websites on company networks would solve this issue - no more Facebook and TikTok for instance? - it may seem obvious.
Social media bans might appear like a quick and simple solution, but any IT professional knows better. We have assisted numerous small and large businesses overcome their social media hurdles successfully; blocking all social media is like using an axe to crack a walnut; it creates more problems than solutions.
Although blocking social networks might deter some employees, almost every employee carries their smartphone at all times.
Do not expect all your employees to use their phones during working hours even if you restrict social media access on PCs or Wi-Fi within your company.
There are always workarounds.
IT teams may not realize that overly restrictive social media policies can result in "shadow IT", or workarounds, where employees may resort to VPNs, encrypted messaging apps and other methods to bypass blocked sites. Your network could become vulnerable to security threats posed by unknown access points.
Key Management Policies
Instead of employing an "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" strategy when it comes to social media usage policies, it would be more effective and less likely to cause employee resentment to create reasonable guidelines instead of overly rigid restrictions.
Wasting time has existed since the dawn of time.
There will always be employees who waste work time browsing social media or other sites; this was true even before the Internet existed! Many business owners will recall seeing employees secretly reading newspapers!
Blocking tools aren't the solution to productivity; rather, focusing on management is often more effective and leading to positive corporate cultures.
Summary: Business owners understandably want to block social networks; however, blanket bans usually don't work and could even have unintended repercussions. Instead, it would be more effective for managers and employees alike to focus on employee management with clear guidelines established beforehand.
Please let us know if we can assist in creating your BYOD and social media policies. Call us on 📞 (404) 932-5940 or 📩info@nuwaveitc.com
