FB, Twitter score over high payslips

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While various firms have long argued about limiting the use of social networks at work places, there’s a new study which could be of little help to the thinking heads in the industry. Unlike until a few years back, when a well-paying job was a must for youngsters, a new study says, priorities of the next-generation of the

world’s workforce revolve around factors like freedom to access social media and use of mobile devices. This recent study by technology giant Cisco further revealed that globally one in three college students and young employees, under the age of 30, prioritise social media freedom along with a few other factors over salary.
Young professionals tell us how important it is for them to be connected to the world even in the middle of a hectic day.
Lohit Kumar, who works with a recruitment firm says, “Social networking is no more limited to chats and useless comments on pictures and videos. Now Facebook for instance, tells you a lot about a person’s life. As HR professionals, one is often asked to befriend people on social networks to find out a little more about their life. Social networks form a very important part of job culture in today’s time.”
For some, it’s not only a part of their job, but also helps them relax. “Being a hotelier the accessibility to a social media network is a part of my job and it helps me relax at work in between my hectic meeting schedules. Also every second employee in an organisation today is a part of the same network in a way (though the source can differ from a Facebook to Gtalk or any other media device). Today, companies are providing these tools, but there are many who restrict the access as well. It depends on the kind of field you’re into,” says Puneet Grover, associate director of sales, Lebua Hotels and Resorts.
It’s not just connecting with friends and colleagues, but most youngsters want minute-to-minute update of the business market too, which is easily available on social platforms. At the same time, some assert that excessive usage can be quite a distraction as well. “Spending more time on social media during work hampers productivity at work. Having said that, I feel that social media also helps employees to stay connected to not just friends but the business market as well and updates one about news,” concludes Rajat Arora, community manager, social media, Digitas.
“Our 3G generation lives in two world — real and virtual. While working in their real world, they check their lives in the virtual world after every few hours. This virtual world is perfect. It’s an open space to express emotions and show off your clothes, vacations and achievements which are not advertised in the real world. So it doesn’t matter how luxurious the workplace is, but how much is the limit to access the virtual world really matters to youngsters today,” concludes JNU student Sumati Arora.