Twitter, Facebook and employers

It seems that the fear factor is beginning to slow down and employers are increasingly looking again at employee use of Twitter and Facebook.

The latest on this subject is provided by Personnel Today.

In a recent article a case is made for employers to look again at how such mediums of communication can create and develop work-related relationships.

See Employers should encourage use of Facebook and Twitter (by Kat Baker) for more details.

Electronic simulations and workplace applications

The trend of employers taking an interest in Web 2.0 appears to be continuing.

An article in the CIPD's People Management magazine discusses how employers are using such technologies for mock-ups, or electronic simulations used for workplace applications ranging from sophisticated business games to psychometric testing.

Further details:

Simulations have long been a favourite in the learning manager’s toolkit – whether it’s role-playing a call from an angry customer or carrying out flipchart-based team exercises to solve a problem.

But technological advances have made it possible to create electronic simulations (sims) that, according to their enthusiasts, are more realistic, compelling and versatile than their traditional predecessors – thereby producing better outcomes.

For more details see Keyboard directors by Hashi Syedain (may only be available for around two weeks with subscription).

Facebook faux pas

First in was bloggers getting into trouble with what they put on-line, now it's social networking sites that are posing problems for employers.

A story on this very issue appeared last night on the BBC News web-site.

In short it involves: A police inspector who put graphic personal details on the social networking site Facebook has a job offer withdrawn.

See 'Facebook' lost policeman top job for more details.

This short news clip from BBC News channel expands far more on how social networking sites often comes into conflict with the objectives of employers and employees.

Podcast on work and social networking

Radio 4's In Business series set aside a whole programme on work and social networking.

It's very business-orientated, if that's your thing.

Details are as such:

"All Join In"

Social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Bebo and YouTube are revolutionising the way people use the internet.

Peter Day finds how businesses need to respond.

For more details of the actual programme visit the In Business website here.

The podcast should be available for a few days yet.

If not, try here.

Can video game playing help organizations?

I don't know about anyone else out there, but the X-Box, PlayStation, etc. has passed me by, yet neither have I regretted not getting involved.

My son is mad on them and my negotiation skills have improved somewhat in getting him to stop playing short of raising my voice so that all the street can hear.

Despite limiting his use of video games it has often made me wonder if there is any further or wider value in young people (and many people not so old) spending so much time fixated with trying to get to what an outsider, like me, often sees as a rather pointless exercise.

Having said all of that, an article by BBC News (Technology) today suggests many organisations are considering ways of harnessing the skills and familiarity their employees have with virtual environments.

How can this work, then?

It is claimed in the article that this familiarity has driven many organisations to consider virtual worlds as places where employees can meet, mix and get on with the job.

What is more, it is believed that the formidable organisational skills required to be successful in virtual games - such as, run a game team or guild, organise raids involving perhaps 40 people and co-ordinate their different abilities to defeat a game's strongest foes - are all relevant to work.

I'm more convinced than I was before reading the article - When work becomes a game by Mark Ward.

Do skilled workers grow on trees?

I get really fed up when I see headlines such as one to be found on today's BBC's news website.

Just dwell for a second on the title - Skilled workers 'harder to find'.

Ask yourself, do workers grow on trees? Are they brought into the world by a stork?

Ultimately, for me anyway, it suggests British employers expect to be able to take on work, sometimes requiring very high levels of skill, sometimes requiring moderate levels of skill but in plentiful supply, and then expect to be able to click their fingers and expect workers to appear in their droves willing to work for average wages and be treated like some sort of liability.

Workers need training and in the main only employers can provide the training in the first place.

Employers - stop moaning and get your own house in order before criticising every but yourselves.