Should staff be allowed to browse personal social media at work?

Hays Ireland recently ran a survey asking how much time people spend on social media sites throughout their working hours. Personally, I was surprised to find that 26 per cent of people spend 46 minutes or more during work on the likes of Facebook and Twitter. 

Social media shows no sign of slowing down with more and more sites such as Pinterest and Instagram joining Youtube, Facebook and Twitter keeping people occupied. And whilst a number of people do genuinely use social media as part of their jobs (recruiters being an example), they would still be in the minority.

Of course companies can block social media sites on their staff’s PCs, but is it worthwhile? It’s an expensive process and most people have smartphones in 2013. In addition, social media is just the latest in a long list of technologies in the workplace where you could worry whether staff will be tempted to spend all day socialising. However, employers were able to deal with the introduction of the telephone, email, the internet and mobile technology before social media came along.

The other consideration is - does using social media impair productivity? Productivity isn’t necessarily a result of time spent on completing tasks; it’s the output and quality of work. It’s commonly known that productivity increases with the inclusion of short breaks.  So you could argue that 5 minutes spent sending a tweet or checking their Facebook wall provides an outlet for employees to take a break and then get back to work more focused.

And what makes browsing social media any different to a flick through the newspaper, the smoke break, coffee run or the water cooler chat? Again, it’s just another option to add to the list of distractions that have been around for years.  

Hays New Zealand recently carried out a survey that showed one in four candidates (25.7 per cent) would turn down a job if they did not have reasonable access to sites such as Facebook at work. This has prompted the need for organisations to create a better work life balance, along with a level of freedom and trust in work.  And if you’re lucky enough to work in the likes of Google, you have the added option of the pinball machine or pool table in the workplace. A distraction or a rewarding break for employees?

The majority (57 per cent) of employees in the Hays Ireland survey said they spend between 0 and 10 minutes on social media sites, so we probably don’t need to worry just yet about drastic drops in productivity.  When used in moderation I don’t think using social media in work will not adversely affect productivity, in fact it might just improve it!

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Rachel Ashe
Digital Marketing
www.hays.ie  |  @haysireland

My Internship Part 2

I had always imagined an internship was for a college/school leaver searching for experience. Sceptics would have you believe companies are taking advantage of eager jobseekers, prepared to use their skills and then discard them as soon as they are done with them.

What did I want from an Internship? First of all I wanted the opportunity to prove that I had something valuable to offer a company. Secondly, I wanted to fill the glaring gap on my CV in relation to my experience. Surely it is a no brainer, six months on the dole looking for a job or six months working day to day building up new experience? Thirdly, I wanted that feeling of not knowing anyone, of first day nerves and being completely lost in a company where everything is alien, I wanted the opportunity to learn.

Lastly, and most importantly, I wanted to find a way to put my time to good use, to shake off the feeling of whiling away hours, to drop the sense of frustration and replace it with accomplishment. And, as I keep hearing, it is easier to get a job when you are already in a job!

It has only been a number of weeks but from what I have seen so far I like it. I don’t know anyone, I was nervous on my first day and ironing my shirt every evening is tedious. However, everyday I am involved with a new project, all in areas that command my interest. I am not being used and abused, more accurately I feel like a valued member of a vibrant team pulling in the same direction. I’m told this is how internships are supposed to work.

So that was then, now, two months down the line things have changed, and changed for the better. Christmas came and went. The time in work was spent training on the systems used and gradually gaining practical experience with them. Time outside of work was spent getting to know new colleagues as the social side of Christmas made my introduction to Hays much easier.

Then on the 2^nd of January came news that I had not been expecting. “How would you feel, if when you came back from your break you would have a permanent job?” my boss asked, just before I was due to head off for an early January break. My initial reaction was, “with Hays?!” I presumed my boss had worked his contacts and found me a place in another company. No; one of my colleagues on Hays’ marketing team had been offered a job that she was not going to turn down. I was being offered her position.

How could I refuse? The prospect of a permanent position while continuing to follow the learning curve I was already on was not something I needed to be asked twice about. I have been dropped in at the deep end as my responsibilities have increased but by #jobfairy am I enjoying the challenge?!

Job fairy tales are few and far between these days and I definitely do not want to make it sound like every internship ends this way, they don’t. But there is one thing I would like to leave you with.

In August 2012, I was confident in my abilities, and was sure I would be back working in no time, having followed the usual process, application – interview – job offer. Come November, I was not that person. I was frustrated, disillusioned and down. The Hays internship has shown me that with the right attitude, hard work and a big old slice of luck, things can turn around as quickly as they fell apart.

Ok, so as twists go, it wasn't quite Dan Brown but if the dream job is eluding you, why not consider the dream internship.

Would you consider doing an internship? Complete our quick survey on Hays.ie.

Brand Ireland’s biggest day

"Greening Tower of Pisa", Italy

Wearing green, drinking Guinness and giving a thought to the Emerald Isle. That’s what people will be doing all over the world on the biggest day for brand Ireland. Are there any other truly global celebratory days with a bedrock in one country? The 4th of July, Mardi Gras or Bastille Day? I don’t think so.

Three years ago Tourism Ireland, the organisation responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination, came up with a fantastic marketing plan of turning global landmarks green for the day. This year we will have the ‘Greening Tower of Pisa’, London Eye, Table Mountain in South Africa, the Empire State Building in New York, the TV Tower in Berlin, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the Sky Tower in Aukland, the Sydney Opera House, the Cibeles fountain in Madrid, the Burgtheater (City Hall) in Vienna, the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Brussels Town Hall and even the mighty Niagara Falls in the U.S. and Canada all turning green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

This is an incredible achievement considering what a tiny nation we are. Once again it’s an indication of how we punch above our weight and the affection the world has for our people, country and culture. In fact you could say it’s symbolic of the other achievements we’ve had over the centuries that have helped built our reputation across most countries worldwide. Arts, sport, politics, commerce and religion have all propelled Irish people into the mindset of the people of many nations. So why shouldn’t we take advantage of it?

And while at face value it looks like ‘a bit of craic’ for the day, there are more strategic objectives around celebrating being Irish. Tourism Ireland’s is probably the most obvious, enticing as many people to take a trip to the 32 counties and help bolster a major factor in our economic recovery. There will be many temporary jobs created around St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, even a few by ourselves! But it’s the long term prospects for the hospitality and retail industry that are so reliant on this feel-good Irish story.

Sixteen Irish government ministers will be schmoozing with dignitaries across the world telling them ‘now is the time to invest in Ireland’s recovery’. Australia, New Zealand, China, Italy, France, the Benelux and Nordic countries, Canada and many of the United States will be hearing about our road to recuperation. They’ll be encouraged to join the incredible amount of FDI that has been coming into the country recently, creating thousands of jobs.

But where is the specific skilled labour to fill those jobs, I hear you cry? Aside from the much publicised national initiatives such as skills conversion courses and changes to education curricula, it’s days like St. Patrick’s Day when we put ideas in our ex-pats’ heads to tempt them back to the old country and ply their skills in a soberer Ireland after the excesses of Celtic Tigerism. Not only that, but think of the many incredibly talented foreign individuals who can choose to live anywhere and start thinking about Ireland on the back of these celebrations?

Oh yes, it’s a clever strategy and one for which we can thank our forefathers for laying the groundwork. Promoting Brand Ireland around St. Patrick’s Day will no doubt have short and longer term effects on our economy. But how about this for a shot in the arm of our finances? Get the 80 million Irish diaspora and their friends to pay an Irish Tax on St. Patrick’s Day as thanks for what we’ve given them. Now wouldn’t that be a boost to the economy?

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!!

Stephen Flanagan
Marketing Manager

HAYS Recruiting experts worldwide

T: +353 1 897 2481
E: stephen.flanagan@hays.com

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