More business internet traffic goes to Facebook than any other site by a wide margin. 6.8% of all business traffic goes to Facebook, with Google traffic a distant second at 3.4%. (Source) The prevalent response to this challenge has been a simple technological solution – to block employee access to the site. More than half (54%) of chief information officers polled by Robert Hall Technology in 2009 reported that they had blocked Facebook entirely. Only 10% of those polled responded that Facebook was completely accessible by all employees at any time. Blocking access is easy to accomplish and addresses the fear that Facebook usage will lead to decreased productivity. This is a simple solution to a complex challenge. That’s always a signal to me that an issue needs further investigation!
The underlying fear that leads an organization to create the policy of blocking Facebook at the workplace can be attributed to an underlying belief that “left to their own devices, our employees will not do what they are supposed to.” This fear demonstrates a low level of respect for the employees of that organization that aren’t setting the policy.
Blocking Facebook clearly could potentially prevent productivity loss. It stands to reason that if people wanted to spend time on Facebook instead of doing what they were tasked with in the workplace, that blocking the opportunity to visit Facebook would mean that they would be forced to perform the tasks. This approach also appears to be shortsighted, and does not address the underlying cause of the worker’s decision to choose to do something other than what is required of them. An employee that is apathetic is most likely going to find other ways of not doing what they are supposed to do. This is a coaching opportunity – and also may be a signal that the employee is a bad fit for the position. Blocking access from Facebook will only provide another reason for the employee to feel like they are treated like a child. This approach can worsen the underlying problem.

Does your organization block Facebook access? How do you feel about it?

image via flickr/johanlarsson