Users of Facebook and Twitter at work sought for QUT study

ARE you at work right now? Are you also on Facebook? You need to read this as soon as possible.

EMPLOYEES who use social media during work hours are the target of a new study, with concerns being raised that the practice is blurring the lines between staff private and professional life.

An Australian study found that 34 per cent of social media users logged on at work to check out Facebook or post on Twitter last year – up from 30 per cent in 2012.

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Queensland University of Technology Business School academic Paula McDonald said social media use was becoming the new workplace battleground, with employers becoming concerned that the practice reduced productivity and posed risks to their ­reputation.

QUT is asking people to confess about their own social media use at work for their landmark study of the practice.

“A large international study recently found 16 per cent of workers spent more than 30 minutes per day on social media at work, with 6 per cent admitting to more than one hour per day,’’ she said.

“As the use of social media continues to increase and as it is used in a greater range of workplace, tensions will continue to arise.’’

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Professor McDonald said these tensions had led to the formal codification of social media use in some workplaces.

“Employers are claiming that it poses a risk to their reputation, while employees claim they have a right to communicate information about their lives – including their work – in their private time,’’ she said.

“There is a level of tolerance by most employers that employees can use private social media at work, but some employers are monitoring private social media use or blocking sites.’’

The Australian Public Service Commission has issued advice to public servants about social media use.

“W hen making public comment in an unofficial capacity, it is not appropriate for (employees) to make comment that is, or could be perceived to be, being made on behalf of their agency or the government rather than an expression of a personal view,” it said.