Facebook could provide 'networking opportunities'

Social networking sites may be a benefit to employees and businesses alike, it has been suggested.

Enterprise company WorkLight has stated that Nielsen research has shown Bebo, Facebook and MySpace could all be useful for workers to access.

David Lavenda, WorkLight's vice president of marketing and product strategy, commented that as well as being useful for personal contacts, professional networking could also be conducted via the portals.

He added that such sites are highly popular with internet users.

This makes their use for internal corporate collaboration and professional networking an attractive and viable business tool, he said.

Mr Lavenda noted that more and more companies opening up to the use of social networks, but the proper security software should be in place.

Despite the Trades Union Congress urging companies to allow their employees to access the social networking sites, many firms have banned workers from using them in office hours.

According to ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg, companies should recognise that social networks are a double-edged sword.

Sites like Facebook are the ideal place for a candidate to demonstrate a portfolio of skills, experience, track record and professional contacts, he says.

The downside is the addictive character that social networks have. On one side are the workaholics, tied to their 'Crackberries' by never-ending texts and emails, he remarks.

On the other are the 'passengers', those staff-members who unfortunately indulge themselves in time-wasting and gossip.

In dealing with both, Mr Traberg acknowledges the huge dilemma that companies face.

It's a question of stick and carrot, he says, and managers need to be adroit at handling the two sides of the issue.

Social networks are not going to go away, he points out.

That means there are two things that employers need to be - understanding, because social networks are the way of the future and staff need encouragement - and assertive enough that staff do not take advantage of the privileges they are granted.