Online Networking, Or Just Not Working?

U.K.'s Largest Labor Group Calls Blocking Facebook, MySpace An "Overreaction"

(AP)  Employers should allow their workers to befriend, chat and "poke" each other through online networking sites while at work, Britain's largest labor federation said Thursday.

While accepting that employers were within their rights to block employees from using sites such as Facebook and MySpace, the Trades Union Congress, or TUC, said a ban "may be something of an overreaction."

"Sensible employers, realizing that their staff spend much of their waking hours in work and lead busy lives, should be trusted to spend a few minutes of their lunchbreak 'poking' their friends or making plans for outside work," the TUC said in guidance published on its Web site.

Online social networking sites - where users sign up, make friends and post photos - have grown rapidly in Britain. Facebook Inc. recorded more than 7 million unique British visitors in July, according to online measurement company comScore Inc. MySpace.com Inc. and Bebo Inc. had more than 10 million visitors each. In all, the top three social networking sites drew as many visitors as Google Inc., according to comScore.

The sites can be a headache for employers and educators - especially when users affiliated with a school or company post inflammatory, indiscreet or just plain embarrassing content. Organizations as diverse as the Ministry of Defense and Oxford University have issued guidance on using the sites within the past month.

The TUC said bosses needed to give their employees guidance on what was and was not acceptable online, rather than imposing a ban. It warned that, in the absence of any workplace rules, British Facebook users were "3.5 million accidents waiting to happen."

"It's unreasonable for employers to try to stop their staff from having a life outside work, just because they can't get their heads around the technology," TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said in a statement. "Better to invest a little time in working out sensible conduct guidelines, so that there don't need to be any nasty surprises for staff or employers."'

The TUC also warned employers against searching through the Web profiles of job applicants, saying doing so could end up being discriminatory.

The TUC, an umbrella organization for Britain's trade unions, says it represents more than 6.5 million workers.

[michellem99-2009]

They work for a business.
Boss say no to the sites.
They have their reasons.
On work computer is for their job.
Home do ya personal stuff on yer pc.
I think I will play some FATE.
Or a paw of solitaire.
Write a friend an e-mail.
I am a home user.

[oakishpines]

'' ... ''tax the world is feed the world and feed the world is tax the world, now get in line to feed it'' ... ''tax the world is tax the world and feed the worls dis feed the world, now get in line to feed it'' ... ''

'' ... more is earned, and less needed, and more resources depleted, and more recycled, building $60,000 homes instead of million dollar, but folk are taught to look the other way ... ''

'' ... u.s. companys pay 3000% more for labor than those in 3rd world, so u.s. babies starve, ... u.s. banks forclose on farms and schools and hospitals around the globe cause ''good education costs good dollars'' ... ''

'' ... most traditional get sick tax world authorities remind all that most folk most time dance porno get sick tax world get well feed world songs rallied round the sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups cost just a few tips of pennys here and a few dimes there ... ''

'' ... girls allergic pharoahs and congresses go where there''s just girls ... ''

'' ... she''s a huvan, get it in writing ... ''

'' ... because of internet, anyone can do any surgery any place anytime from anywhaere in world: most tho don''t injure and kill w/o permission, but only cause i''ll injure and kill them w/o permission ... ''

'' ... eternal stroyboard dragons swimming infinite oceans of eternal storyboard dragons ... ''

[dzfromsc]

I wish this report included some US statistics. I''d also like to point that my employer, one the top 5 retail banks in the country, does not ban the use of websites like MySpace.
I also agree that as long as it doesn''t pose a security risk to the employer, employees should be allowed to view websites of their choice during lunch.

gkc99: I agree with the blackberry thing.

[gkc99]

Now that employers think they have every right to load employees with electronic chains like Blackberrys so they can''t even take a vacation without some snarling dipshit boss bothering them, it is only fair that employees can try to recapture a little of their life while at work by going online.

Employers don''t like it--they forget those after hours and weekend calls. Employees--work during business hours only.

And if your job gets shipped to China, there is always boss-killing to remind them that labor still has teeth.