Social networking fears to impact upon workplace net usage

Fears in relation to the use of social networking sites, such as Facebook, a site established in 2004, will lead to many employers adopting restrictive internet practices, it has been claimed.

According to the findings of a study by legal firm Charles Russell, fears over the excessive use of social networking sites will cause two out of every three employers to either restrict or monitor the use of the internet in the workplace.

The firm has revealed that this will occur over a timeframe of six months, reports Personnel Today.

"Treating our employees like adults allows us to have open discussions about how to balance work and social during working hours," said one of the survey's participants.

"Setting out rules would prompt people to look for ways to circumvent them and restrict potential innovation."

The findings of the study are based upon the responses of over 220 individuals and was completed in participation with PersonnelToday.