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46% of Irish Businesses Don't Have a Social Media Policy
- 07 June 2013
New research from William Fry has uncovered a number of interesting findings around Irish businesses’ use of social media.
Use of Personal Social Media in the Workplace
The report found that 80% of employees access their personal social media accounts while at work, spending an average of 56 minutes a day on social media. This is despite 40% of companies stating that they have a ban on social media in the workplace.
Catherine Flynn, Employment & Benefits Associate at William Fry, says this is a clear indication that employers need to be more realistic in their expectations: “There is limited value in imposing absolute restrictions. Instead, companies should focus on defining realistic limits for access to social media in the workplace.”
Ownership of Social Media
The research also highlighted a significant element of confusion around ownership of brand social media accounts. Just 46% of the companies surveyed said they had a social media policy in place, with even more uncertainty surrounding the crossover between business and personal contacts.
The report found that 60% of employees keep work-related contacts on their personal social media accounts, but only 30% of employers are aware of their staff’s online connections with business contacts. Just 17% of employers have discussed the procedure for handing over online contacts should an employee leave the company.
Brand Protection
56% of employers encourage their staff to report any negative comments about the business that they encounter on social media - but only 38% of employees said they would. 27% of employers said they are concerned that confidential business information could be shared on social media by their employees.
Source: Digital Marketing Institute - 46% of Irish Businesses Don't Have a Social Media Policy
