Impact Of Social Networking Sites On Workplace Productivity

ABSTRACT

This study examines the impact of social networking sites on workplace productivity. Objectives of the study include: to examine the effect of social media on employees’ productivity; to identify the impact of using social media as a strategic communications tool on employee productivity and cost effectiveness; to identify the positive and the negative consequences of employees’ individual media use; to evaluate the potential benefits of social networking sites for business in an organization. The research design adopted for this study is survey design while the population consists of employees of selected Guaranty Trust Bank in Lagos state. A sample size of 100 respondents was sampled for this study. Data was analysed using chi-square statistical tool with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The study finds out that: there was a very clear indication that social media had become a common medium of communication for employees to collaborate, integrate and share knowledge among colleagues; the study found that contrary to expectation, the existence of a policy restricting the use of social media did not completely deter the use of social media during working hours;the study findings also reveal that social media was widely in use both by employees and by Guaranty Trust Bank. The study validates the fact that the use of social media by employees during working hours can be counterproductive. The analysis also revealed that social media usage by employees enhances employee productivity. The study concluded that it was impossible for banks to completely restrict use of social media by its employees during working hours, because these employees would still find ways to access in spite of restrictions. The study also concludes that social media has a very weak impact on employee productivity. Among the recommendations of the study includes: the bank should  impose sanctions on any employee caught accessing the social media for personal use; the bank should restrict access to social media sites other than the banks’ own; the bank should sensitize the workers on the effects of using social networking while attending to customers