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Hey bosses! Facebook can be really good for the firm, says Kelly

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By Noel Young, Correspondent

June 13, 2012 | 3 min read

What place does social media have in the workplace? More than you might think - and it could be good for the employer - according to findings from the Kelly Global Workforce Index released yesterday.

It could be good for bosses, too

Andrew Cook, General Manager UK and Ireland at Kelly Services said: “We need to dispel the myth that social media is for leisure time only.

"Used well, it can be an essential communication tool for your workforce to engage with customers and be vital in attracting talent to your business."

Yet both employees and employers are nervous about social media in the workplace : 44% of UK employees think social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, are bad for workplace productivity.

Employers could make more of social media, either as a recruitment tool or as a means of boosting their brand as an employer, says Kelly.

On the downside, workers do harness social media for their own ends: "One third said they were more likely to use social media than traditional methods to search for jobs."

Other nervousness about social media at work:

* 73% of people feel it is not appropriate to share opinions about work on social media,"suggesting people have an automatic tendency to assume these opinions would be negative rather than positive mentions promoting the employer brand."

* Over half of UK employees worry that mixing personal and professional connections through social media could cause problems at work

Said Cook,"“Boosting employer brands by raising your corporate profile through social media is increasingly important.

"Most people fear discussions about their current employer could be negative. In fact your workforce can be your best social brand ambassadors."

These are the second findings from the Kelly Global Workforce Index an annual survey conducted by Kelly Services. Almost 170,000 people in 30 countries participated in the survey, including 3,500 in the UK.

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