Work Environment and Company Culture - Essay Example

Work Environment and Company Culture Different organizations have different sets of behavior laid down for the workplace. They may differ basing on industry, geographical location and the cultural backgrounds of the organization, employers and employees (Belcher, 2009). Sometimes they may be set up by the city or state regulations. This paper will discuss the work environment in social networks terms and their role in determining whether to hire individuals, how employees use them outside working hours and if they are appropriate during working hours.

Should a company view information on social networking sites when determining whether to hire an individual Yes. As social networking sites are growing both technologically and in usage, so are companies investing more in new technology (Belcher, 2009). They are at liberty to search for useful information on potential employees’ level of responsibility and inconsistencies. Some candidates go back further in their career history than their resume reveals (Belcher, 2009). Furthermore, it is common knowledge that information placed on the social networking sites is already on the public domain.

On their part, potential employees should exercise discretion in the use of such networks and only publish non defamatory content (Belcher, 2009). Employers should also consider on which of the social networks information is obtained. For example, it would not be ethical for an employer to base all his decisions on a site like Facebook, where users post personal information on their non-work related life (Belcher, 2009). A site like LinkedIn would be a more appropriate consideration. When posting information to a personal account outside working hours, does an employee still need to consider company policies Yes.

An employee should always remember that he remains an employee until the contract is terminated. In as much as he may not be utilizing company time and resources to make such personal posts, he should be cautious of the content (Das, 2009). Through their inherent nature, social networking sites may be accessed by unintended recipients, albeit not maliciously. Some of the content may be considered unethical behavior against the company (Das, 2009). The employee himself may not post anything offending, but it could draw a chain of unfavorable comments from his networked contacts, which will reveal the friends he hangs around.

Use of social networking sites outside of working hours is up to an individual, but a consideration of the posted content is equally significant (Das, 2009). Should companies allow employees to surf social networking sites during work hours Yes, but in a limited and controlled manner. I believe that use of social networks helps to increase the organization’s network base, but there should be policies to govern who should be allowed and at what time and duration. Most companies market themselves via such websites, and a total media blackout would be detrimental to the efforts of sales and marketing teams (Patton, 2009).

The line between work and personal life usage of social media has become thin, and not all employees have the same level of self driven responsibility, therefore, the company needs to identify those who can use such privileges responsibly on work related activities (Patton, 2009). Training professionals need to emphasize the correct use of social media in the workplace. It presents enormous opportunities for collaborating, networking, sharing best practices and communicating to an almost unlimited pool of people sharing similar business needs.

Social media should aim to enhance an organization’s branding and allow their clients and employees use them productively (Patton, 2009). References Belcher, P. (2009). How to use social media. Boston: McGraw. Das, N. (2009). The advantages and disadvantages of social networking. Retrieved from http://www.mytripledub.com/blog/romance-relationships/ advantages-and-disadvantages-social-networking Patton, C. (2009). The social networking express: Professional safety. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.