Facebook Friday – dream or pipedream?

By Kelly Dyer, Editor of Strategic Communication Management, Melcrum

How many of you are able to freely check your Facebook account whilst at work and during working hours? In fact, how many of you are actively encouraged by your manager to do so?

At IT software developer, Serena, the days of Facebook addicts grabbing a crafty few seconds to check their profiles when the boss’ back is turned are long gone. Serena’s CEO, Jeremy Burton, has initiated a “Facebook Friday” policy where every employee is encouraged to spend an hour on a Friday using the networking site to learn more about his or her fellow workers.

Speaking in an interview for the podcast series "For Immediate Release", Burton explains that, in his opinion, the workplace runs smoother when you’re interacting with people you know in a capacity beyond that of just work colleague. Therefore, he encourages every employee to share information about themselves and watch the world go by in the same manner as you would when sitting in Starbucks, only this way allows you to do it online whilst watching someone’s status update.

Despite the name, Facebook usage is not restricted to Fridays. Burton is quite happy for employees to use Facebook everyday if they so wish. Is there a problem with people using this time to network with people outside of the organization? Burton admits that this is likely to be happening, but why should it become a major issue? After all, the company employs responsible adults and they should be treated as such. “Clamp down on these things and people only find a way round the ban,” says the CEO.

So what have the benefits been for Serena so far? Some 85% of the company’s population use it or have a profile and Burton believes it’s going a long way towards breaking down the hierarchical barriers that exist in the company.

This paints Burton as the boss of everyone’s dreams – someone who really wants levels of morale to be high and who trusts and respects his staff. But would this open-minded philosophy work successfully in all companies? Have those organizations that have banned social networking sites done their staff a disservice and are they losing out on an opportunity to build better relations, as well as a healthier, smoother and ultimately more productive workforce? I’d love to hear your thoughts.