Wichita Business Journal
By Josh Heck
As social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook gain popularity, companies are considering their use in the workplace.
Some Wichita businesses limit the amount of time employees spend on social networking sites — especially when company secrets could be put in jeopardy — while others prefer to let employees use their best judgement.
Either way, employers are trying to ensure social media isn’t interfering with business operations and employees aren’t wasting the company’s time.
“For us, the concern is primarily … protecting patients,” says Angie Prather, who is leading an effort to develop a social media policy at the Wichita Clinic.
The policy could be ready for its executive team to approve before the end of the year.
Time Waster
ESPN recently clamped down on its employees’ Twitter practices, prohibiting the posting of any unapproved sports content.
Nonprofit group Youthville has taken a stronger position on regulating social networking. Several of its laptop computers were infected recently with a virus after they were used to access social networking sites.
“Although we have an agency Twitter (account), we do not endorse using Twitter at work,” says Executive Director Shelley Duncan.
Anita Oberwortmann tells employees if it’s not work related, don’t do it. She owns Wilson Building Maintenance Inc. and Metro Courier Inc.
She doesn’t have a formal social media policy, but Oberwortmann uses sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to promote her businesses and track what other businesses are doing.
“All of (the social networking accounts) are related to the company,” she says.
The Greteman Group in January devised a social media policy for its employees.
“The biggest concern when it comes to Twitter is not the time it takes to create a post, but the time and focus required to keep up with the numerous conversations,” Greteman’s policy says. The policy was drafted by Todd Ramsey, a digital brand manager at Greteman.
The goal of the policy is to restrict use during office hours to minimize the affect on the company and billable service hours.
“We’re a service agency and we don’t want to be violating our clients’ trust,” Ramsey says.
Twitter gives users a text box to enter messages of 140 characters or less. A number of Wichita companies have Twitter accounts, which they use largely for promotional and marketing purposes.
Youthville and the Greteman Group ask employees who blog to clearly indicate the views expressed are not necessarily that of the organization.
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