By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:04 PM on 26th October 2009
A number of major firms have banned employees from accessing Twitter, after it emerged that time wasted on social networking websites was costing businesses £1.38billion each year.
A survey published today found that 57 per cent of workers use sites such as Facebook and Twitter during office hours, spending an average of 40 minutes a week posting messages and sending 'tweets'.
The social networking sites have already been banned by many large firms and some City banks.
Lost hours: Twitter has been banned by a number of major firms after it was found to be costing £325million a year in lost productivity
In September, it emerged Portsmouth City Council had banned its staff from using the social networking site Facebook after it was revealed that workers visited the website an average of 413 hours a month, and Hillingdon council requires staff to sign a code of conduct limiting their time on Twitter.
The survey of 1,460 office workers, commissioned by IT services and technology company Morse, found 76 per cent of those surveyed had not been issued with specific guidelines relating to the use of the popular micro-blogging site.
Based on the average wage of an office worker, this costs firms £1.38 billion a year, the company said.
Last week singer Lily Allen, one of its most followed users, quit Twitter claiming her obsession with it had got so out of hand her boyfriend had made her choose between him and the site.
She signed off with the message: 'I am a neo-luddite, goodbye.'
Twitter has said that London is the city where it has the most users.
Philip Wicks, a consultant at IT firm Morse, which carried out the study, said: 'The popularity of these sites has grown considerably over the last couple of years but with it has come the temptation to visit them during office hours.
'When it comes to an office environment, the use of these sites is clearly becoming a productivity black hole.
'It is clear that businesses shouldn't turn a blind eye to their employees' use of social networks, and instead look to formulate and enforce sensible usage policies.
'Without guidelines and usage policies businesses are leaving themselves wide open to a reduction in productivity, brand damage and security risks,' he added.
Workers have also been caught out after posting messages about their boss, colleagues, or their firm's work. Currys, PC World and Virgin Atlantic all came under the spotlight recently after employees abused customers on social networking sites.
'Twitter has become a real addiction for people,' said Tom Wiggins of gadget magazine Stuff.
'The messages are so short, people think they can get away with just a quick look. However, it can really eat up time.
'I think the Facebook ban also drove people to Twitter. It has the same voyeuristic appeal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223034/Major-firms-ban-Twitter-workplace-employees-tweets-cost-firms-325m-year.html
Last updated at 2:04 PM on 26th October 2009
A number of major firms have banned employees from accessing Twitter, after it emerged that time wasted on social networking websites was costing businesses £1.38billion each year.
A survey published today found that 57 per cent of workers use sites such as Facebook and Twitter during office hours, spending an average of 40 minutes a week posting messages and sending 'tweets'.
The social networking sites have already been banned by many large firms and some City banks.
Lost hours: Twitter has been banned by a number of major firms after it was found to be costing £325million a year in lost productivity
In September, it emerged Portsmouth City Council had banned its staff from using the social networking site Facebook after it was revealed that workers visited the website an average of 413 hours a month, and Hillingdon council requires staff to sign a code of conduct limiting their time on Twitter.
The survey of 1,460 office workers, commissioned by IT services and technology company Morse, found 76 per cent of those surveyed had not been issued with specific guidelines relating to the use of the popular micro-blogging site.
Based on the average wage of an office worker, this costs firms £1.38 billion a year, the company said.
Last week singer Lily Allen, one of its most followed users, quit Twitter claiming her obsession with it had got so out of hand her boyfriend had made her choose between him and the site.
She signed off with the message: 'I am a neo-luddite, goodbye.'
Twitter has said that London is the city where it has the most users.
Philip Wicks, a consultant at IT firm Morse, which carried out the study, said: 'The popularity of these sites has grown considerably over the last couple of years but with it has come the temptation to visit them during office hours.
'When it comes to an office environment, the use of these sites is clearly becoming a productivity black hole.
'It is clear that businesses shouldn't turn a blind eye to their employees' use of social networks, and instead look to formulate and enforce sensible usage policies.
'Without guidelines and usage policies businesses are leaving themselves wide open to a reduction in productivity, brand damage and security risks,' he added.
Workers have also been caught out after posting messages about their boss, colleagues, or their firm's work. Currys, PC World and Virgin Atlantic all came under the spotlight recently after employees abused customers on social networking sites.
'Twitter has become a real addiction for people,' said Tom Wiggins of gadget magazine Stuff.
'The messages are so short, people think they can get away with just a quick look. However, it can really eat up time.
'I think the Facebook ban also drove people to Twitter. It has the same voyeuristic appeal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223034/Major-firms-ban-Twitter-workplace-employees-tweets-cost-firms-325m-year.html
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