Deloitte Social Media Survey Results May Surprise You

Deloitte has just released its 2009 Ethics & Workplace Survey with some fascinating findings and implications for professionals, employers, social networks and internet behavior. It shows the stark differences between the views of employers and employees and the blurring lines between professional and personal lives, the tensions between the benefits from participating in social media, balanced against reputational risks of any missteps.

First the stand-offs between employers and employees: 60% of business executives believe they have a right to know how employees portray themselves and their organizations in online social networks. But 53% of employees disagree, saying that their social networking pages are not an employer’s concern, more vehemently so by 18-34 year old workers, who think employers have no business monitoring their online activity. However, all employees understand risk, 74% realize they can damage a company’s reputation.

According to Sharon Allen, chairman of the board, Deloitte LLP, “…a single act can create far reaching ethical consequences for individuals as well as employers.”

Thankfully for employees, only 17% of executives have programs to monitor and mitigate risks from use of social networks. While 25% of businesses have formal policies, that does not deter 49% of employees.

It seems clear that mandates don't work fully, it is better to rely on prudence and values. Again, Allen, “…it is critical that we continue to foster solid values-based cultures that encourage employees to behave ethically regardless of the venue.”

Here’s some more interesting and surprising findings:

How often do you visit social networking sites? 45% say 1 to 5 times a week
If you use social networking sites, do you access them during work hours? 52% don’t during working hours, 26% cannot access thru company networks
“The content on your Facebook, MySpace or Twitter pages prevented you from getting a job.” 89% say False, this seems to be a prevalent urban myth
Our CEO is on Facebook: 31% say Yes
We utilize social networking for recruiting purposes: 23% say Yes
“My company has formal policies that dictate how employees can use social networking tools.” 72% say False

By curtailing social media, is business impinging on an employee’s privacy and freedom of speech? By inappropriately posting on the internet is the employer bearing otherwise avoidable risk? These are tough questions to deal with….

All in all, this survey shows the wide gap between businesses and their workers, and the complexities involved in appropriately managing an online presence versus curbing employee activities set against risks of potential rogue behavior. Social media has taken professionals by storm, especially recently, and organizations appear to be grappling with all aspects of this avalanche. As with all such phenomena, either a cataclysmic event will lead to regulations across the board, or evolution combined with reasonable give and take will yield acceptable norms.