TheTUChas called on employers to allow
their staff to use consumer-basedsocial networkingsites in company
time.
In guidance available on WorkSmart, its working-life website,
the TUC advises employers that they should have in place policies
covering the use of e-mail and the web, including social networking
sites.
The TUC advice suggests that although employers are completely
within their rights to forbid staff from using sites such as
Facebook,
MySpace or
Bebo in work time, "a total ban may be something of an
over-reaction".
Instead, the TUC suggests that "sensible employers, realising
that their staff spend many of their waking hours in work and lead
busy lives, should be trusted to spend a few minutes of their lunch
break 'poking' their friends or making plans for outside work".
The guidance accepts that employees are paid to do a job, and
that it is clearly not acceptable for someone to spend hours a day
on social networking sites when they should be getting on with
their work. However, the TUC says, policies drawn up with the
involvement of staff can set out what will be and what will not be
allowed.
The TUC says not enough workplaces are being upfront about what
they expect from staff in terms of personal conduct when using
social networking sites. As a result, a number of employers have
disciplined staff for their conduct online, and more cases are
likely to follow "unless some sensible precautions are taken".
TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, said, "Simply cracking
down on use of new web tools like Facebook is not a sensible
solution to a problem, which is only going to get bigger.
"It is unreasonable for employers to try to stop their staff
from having a life outside work, just because they cannot get their
heads around the technology. It is better to invest a little time
in working out sensible conduct guidelines, so there are not any
nasty surprises for staff or employers."
The TUC's
advice to employees can be found here.