She Social Networks Hard for the Money

In his essay, “In Praise of Idleness,” British philosopher Bertrand Russell argued that “the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work.” If that truly is the case, then Facebook users are well on their way to bliss. Some 233 million work hours are lost every month because of employees who social network, says employment-law firm Peninsula, suggesting that businesses ban the use of sites like Facebook.

“Why should employers allow their workers to waste two hours a day on Facebook when they are being paid to do a job?” wondered Mike Huss, employment-law director at Peninsula, echoing an anti-Internet canard that first surfaced when AOL debuted as a workplace tool in the 1990s. “The figures that we have calculated are minimums, and it’s a problem that I foresee will escalate. Some companies are happy to let their workers use the Internet for personal use, assuming that goals and targets are achieved. However, loss of productivity through social networks such as Facebook is proving to be a major headache, and my advice would be for companies to block access.”

How’s the saying go? All social network and no play makes Jack an unemployed boy?