A Unhappy and distracted workers are costing their employers £40m a day, partly by wasting time on social networking sites, a new study has found.

Many firms believe access to the internet at work should be for legitimate business purposes only.

But the TUC has backed web tools like Facebook, arguing they should not be banned from the workplace as employees plan their life outside work.

What's your experience? Are you in a workplace which prevents access to networking sites, or is your office happy to turn a blind eye to a little online slacking?

Have you been caught out 'poking' when you should be working?

Comments

[Alan, Dunfermline Sep 3, 2007 3:20:29 PM]

Happy workers are hard workers. (I'm at work just now)

[Laura, Manchester Sep 1, 2007 6:34:29 PM]

To the people that are complaining that people do not work because they are on myspace, facebook etc. You obviously dont get up to much better!!!! Just because your on a website that tells you the news doesnt mean that its right. If companys dont want you on anything but work related sites then get them blocke. End of.

[Kat Aug 31, 2007 5:57:44 PM]

As long as work is done to a good standard, who cares? Jobsworth so and so's.

[Rose, Co Cork, Ireland Aug 31, 2007 2:25:05 PM]

I am unable to work due to illness so I've got plenty of time to surf. I tried Facebook and I thought it was the silliest, most irritating, pointless and overly complicated thing of all time. I unsubscribed after about two weeks. WHAT is the attraction?????

[Sue, Essex Aug 31, 2007 2:21:56 PM]

My workplace allows access to the internet, certain things like web-based mail and gaming is blocked. Facebook is allowed, but certain aspects of it are also blocked.

I use it and visit other websites in work time when I have no work to do. As I work for a company who have high and low spots of work this is acceptable. When there's work to do I work, when there is nothing for me to do and I've asked if I can help anyone else and still not been given any work, I surf the net. If I didn't I would spend hours of my day staring at the wall with nothing to do.

There are certain aspects of everyday life which are easier to deal with over the internet in work time such as paying bills, shopping and checking bank balances. These things cannot always be done easily outside of work, or in the lunch break.

If a member of staff's work is suffering because of surfing then that is an issue that should be addressed by the company with the individual. It shouldn't have to impinge on the rest of us who can do our work to a good standard while surfing the web at times when there is no work.

[Andrew : Leeds Aug 31, 2007 1:25:04 PM]

We have had Facebook blocked at work here. It was my decision. Within 1 hour people found a proxy server and straight back onto Facebook

[Maura, London Aug 30, 2007 6:49:57 PM]

I think that websites such as Facebook should be accessible at lunch break or outside work hours.

[Mark, London Aug 30, 2007 5:08:32 PM]

I love the fact that a lot of people are wound up about this issue but all it means is that they themselves have been watching TV during work hours. Hmmm, interesting

[Peter, Beds Aug 30, 2007 4:58:53 PM]

Actually I spend most of my 'internet' time looking at Sky News, DeviantArt and my own web-based email.

[Sudeep Jain, Liverpool Aug 30, 2007 3:41:25 PM]

Why not connect the two Facebook related news articles? HSBC Bosses certainly do not use Facebook as they expect their employees to work as they are paid to work like many employer commented earlier. But how did HSBC find out about the NUS Boycott on Facebook? Is Facebook really bad for business then?

Don't these stories connect with each other?

[matt, andover Aug 30, 2007 3:22:24 PM]

I work for the Civil service and they have a block on, bebo, myspace, facebook, ebay, anything related sex/violence or gambling. Anything adult material related. Some wrestling and other sports sites are blocked.

The civil service has one of the most strict blockers on their net it restricts so much

[Khalid Aug 30, 2007 3:02:35 PM]

In all honesty, what people do within their lunch or tea breaks (even unpaid overtime) is a matter solely for them, as in my books, keep the staff happy and they will show "Eva Cassidy" their "True Colours".
The only site that should be openly available is http://www.sky.com/news

[Juliet, Lancashire Aug 30, 2007 2:10:35 PM]

EEEEE I use t'facebook all the time, does anyone want to be me mate ?

[Nick Fawcett - Rustenburg - South Africa Aug 30, 2007 1:58:20 PM]

AH hah!! What's everyone doing while they are reading this discussion and writing comments saying that the likes of Facebook should be taken off work sites?
Got you!! Now get back to work!!

[Sue Southampton Aug 30, 2007 1:35:49 PM]

It is ridiculous people do not work these days. It takes ages to achieve anything at all. Why is a time and motion study not taken at work to see where people coulod improve their output.
Some og the workers are the laziest in the world.

[Ian Gray, Haywards Heath Aug 30, 2007 1:31:18 PM]

There is no difference between people using social networking sites such as facebook to waste time as standing around chatting by the coffee machine or going for a cigarette and employers should grow up and look at the quality of work produced and not the amount of time spent on it. Modern society has created a culture where we spend thousands of pounds on jobs that aren't needed(middle managment etc) and then concentrate on issues that miss the point completely.

[John Baker, Milton Keynes. Aug 30, 2007 12:47:01 PM]

People waste far too much time on the 'net and Facebook hardly helps.

It's extremely amusing the TUC feel people should be left to surf the 'net all day, but isn't that what unions are all about? Encouring people to do as little as possible?

I certainly don't pay my Council Tax for public sector staff to spend all day on Facebook.

[Ty, Haywards Heath Aug 30, 2007 12:46:21 PM]

I use the internet in work, it's great when your waiting for large spreadsheets to do calculations. My boss sits behind me and it does not bother her provided my work is being done. - What else is there to do while your comp is so slow that it's actully unproductive to do anything else?
I call it multi-tasking!

[lex south wales Aug 30, 2007 12:30:05 PM]

well it should be ok if the people do it on there break...but if its on the companies time then it should be banned as they are paid to work

[Ricky, Newcastle Aug 30, 2007 12:15:11 PM]

I think social networking websites are brilliant and am a daily user of Facebook. However i know how much time can be wasted using it. I'd be glad if my employer banned its use because i would finally get some work done!

[Darren Derby Aug 30, 2007 12:09:33 PM]

I work in IT and manage information systems and I can see exactly how much time people spend doing non-related work and to be frank its alot of wasted hours. I think people should be allowed some freedom but some people spend hours on these sites - whilst other people are doing what they should be doing and thats 'paid work'.
Ask yourself this - If you were running a business would you feel happy about paying people hard cash to sit around surfing the net - I didnt think so!

[Robin Shepperson, Dublin, ireland Aug 30, 2007 11:36:43 AM]

Well work here used to allow Myspace and Bebo but since put a block on it. Frankly I feel thats very childish, we'r all adults, if work is getting done then whats the problem? Funnily enough my usual browse online is actually sky news, this proves that fact. I feel sometimes work places are far too OTT when it comes to the internet, a free expressing, relaxed workforce is far more happier to be productive than a regimented workforce who will be productive until they cant take anymore of it, then leave the company. So if you think about it, businesses would benefit cost wise to be a bit more lenient and reap the awards of a happy and fruitful workforce.

[Johnny, Northern Ireland. Aug 30, 2007 11:00:28 AM]

I think, as long as their getting the work done, why not!.

I dont work, cause i'm still at school but when I do go to work later on in life I would like to be trusted with that freedom on my work computer. I dont see any harm in a little flick off some hard work to a little browse round Bebo, Facebook and so on.

I think it may even help people relax and feel more at home at work. If you know what I mean, Imagine being at work all day, basically disconnected from all your friends and so on. I dont know about you, but I'd feel pretty annoyed and wouldnt really enjoy my job in the office as much anymore.

Just wee things like that would effect me and I'd say many of my friends would agree.

Im a webdesigner and I spend hours a day coding websites and working at my desk in my bedroom and just to flick onto Bebo the odd time is a good quick break away from my work.

[Correen, Wrexham Aug 30, 2007 10:23:27 AM]

Since returning to work in 2005 after maternity I found that the growth in internet personal usage at work is epidemic. It is disheartening to work hard whilst all around you people are skiving. I must admit I know surf myself as if you cant beat them join them.