British Unions Say Yes to Facebook at Work

The Trade Unions Congress (TUC) has announced that workers should have the right to view social networking sites such as facebook and bebo whilst at work. Whereas it is ok for employers to insist that these sites are not viewed during working hours, there was no reason why people should not be allowed to view these sites during lunch breaks. They argue that the workers have the right to a social life outside of work and so should be able to use modern social networking technology.

This was done in response to the growing number of companies who have banned access to facebook from company computers.

Not everyone was so convinced though and Peter Mooney, of Employment Law Advisory Services, said the TUC's call was "nonsense".
"Why should employers pay for the privilege of allowing their employees to access Facebook, MySpace or Bebo from work computers whether in an employee's lunch-time or not?”

So who’s right and who’s wrong? You can’t block all non-work related sites as this would have to include all news sites and (God forbid) bloggs!

I think you just need to trust employees not to overdo things. Our working days can be very stressful and intensive and the time it takes to couple off and take a short break form work is a good thing to help you get through the day, so long as doesn’t replace work !

The old ideas of two fika breaks per day plus lunch does not always work for me as quite often I miss fika due to meetings or just because I have too much to do.

It's interesting though that the same debate is raging in both Sweden and Britain.