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Young Workers Push Employers for Wider Web Access
Just browsing through the headlines on BusinessWeek and came across this article: Young workers push employers for wider Web access
I’m sure the Gen Y readers will particularly enjoy the article, but I’d like Baby Boomer business owners to take a moment and read it as well. Here is a quote that I think sums up the article’s position nicely:
“It’s no different than spending too much time around the water cooler or making too many personal phone calls. Do you take those away? No,” says Gary Rudman, president of GTR Consulting, a market research firm that tracks the habits of young people. “The two worlds will continue to collide until there’s a mutual understanding that performance, not Internet usage, is what really matters.”
This new generation of talent lives and breathes technology, so when they get to the office and find they can’t get to Facebook, Gmail and other popular internet sites, or if there is no Wi-Fi access for their laptop, its as if they’ve been incapacitated. Hindered from working in the manner they are accustom.
Certainly for some companies in highly regulated industries, some safeguards will need to be in place. The article mentions a company allows employees to access any site but prevents file uploads for data security reasons.
In general, I think its better to assume your employees are all adults and can handle the internet appropriately. How are you handling the changing role of the internet in the office?
The true measure of an employee’s success should be based on whether or not they get the job done and done well – does it really matter how they got it done? Wouldn’t you rather employees that are capable of working smart (and using all available tools and technologies), not hard? (and burning themselves out in the process). If an employee has good relationships with their customers and co-workers, meets or exceeds his/her goals, accomplishes tasks in a timely manner, and has a good attitude, then does it really matter if they spend an hour a day on Facebook? They are still getting the job done and getting it done well right?
Lastly, it is inevitable that technologly will further weave itself into our workplace – why not create a work environment that fosters productive and effective use of these new tools and technologies? Sure you probably need a few guidelines (i.e. a policy) to avoid employees engaging in illegal activities and to have a leg to stand on when usage interferes with job performance but for the most part the guiding principle should be TRUST. I find it funny that companies will TRUST their employee with managing large amounts of money, or key customers critical to their business, or to develop new products that could cost millions if they fail, but won’t give those same employees full internet access??
The true measure of an employee’s success should be based on whether or not they get the job done and done well – does it really matter how they got it done? Wouldn’t you rather employees that are capable of working smart (and using all available tools and technologies), not hard? (and burning themselves out in the process). If an employee has good relationships with their customers and co-workers, meets or exceeds his/her goals, accomplishes tasks in a timely manner, and has a good attitude, then does it really matter if they spend an hour a day on Facebook? They are still getting the job done and getting it done well right?
Lastly, it is inevitable that technologly will further weave itself into our workplace – why not create a work environment that fosters productive and effective use of these new tools and technologies? Sure you probably need a few guidelines (i.e. a policy) to avoid employees engaging in illegal activities and to have a leg to stand on when usage interferes with job performance but for the most part the guiding principle should be TRUST. I find it funny that companies will TRUST their employee with managing large amounts of money, or key customers critical to their business, or to develop new products that could cost millions if they fail, but won’t give those same employees full internet access??
hi. great article!
hi. great article!
grandiosa a rantrevo si vatalha coestamo con trado. ornadera sados se beisevo son intremigo mi cuntemos elado y fespa antes catilamo.
grandiosa a rantrevo si vatalha coestamo con trado. ornadera sados se beisevo son intremigo mi cuntemos elado y fespa antes catilamo.