There is no doubt about it – Facebook and social media are just part of our day. Checking in, liking and sharing is just part of most people’s daily habits. But how should you manage your social media activities in the workplace?

Here is the thing: You are being paid to do a job. You are being paid for (most often) 8 hours of work, give or take. You are not being paid to talk on the phone to your mum for an hour, send your friends snapchat selfies from the water cooler, take 2 hour lunch breaks, arrive late every day and take 20 sick days.

So that may be worst case scenario – but let me tell you, that is definitely a real case scenario. We see it. All. The. Time.

Here is a little list of the do’s and don’ts of how to use social media for personal reasons in the workplace.

Do:

• Check your personal emails, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat or anything else that is currently trending, on your way to work and on your way home. Consider this to be your window to get all your updates.
• Put your phone on silent as soon as you arrive at the office.
• Take a lunch break and use that time to login to your social media.
• Use your discretion and check something if you need to, or respond to a message, text message, etc.
• Put your phone in your top drawer if you are easily distracted or get a lot of pop ups and messages on your screen.
• Use LinkedIn if you need that social media fix. Login, like, comment or share on something work related. Learn something new. Then close the window and get on with your job.

Don’t:

• Login to your Facebook, Twitter, etc on your work computer.
• Get involved in chats or posts that involve your time, concentration or energy during work hours.
• Look at your phone every 5 minutes. Every 10 minutes or every 20 minutes.
• Assume you are being discreet and your boss won’t realise. They do.
• Document your day at work in selfies and updates.
• Don’t waste your workday, your boss’s time or your employers money by surfing Facebook or Instagram on their time.
• Don’t be afraid to occasionally check a post or look something up quickly when you have a moment. If you are doing all of the above, you are obviously not take advantage of the situation and your boss most likely won’t mind if you have to quickly do something on social media of a personal nature.

We get it, sometimes things come up and social media is part of our every day lives. But just like all good things, it is about balance. Do your job when you are at work. Leave the social media for before, after and during your lunch break.

Unfortunately, it seems that often people are assuming that being on their phone and checking social media is a given in the workplace and a right. It is not and it will not end favourably if your boss feels that you are spending too much time on social media when you are in the workplace. We encourage you to follow the above guide and use your common sense when it comes to social media. Essentially you are paving the way for future workplace rules and employees.

If you want to talk more about office and workplace do’s and don’ts – check out our Sprint Coach.