The headline of this article got me thinking: If social media for work purposes is the wave of the future, then shouldn't it follow that we'll be able to update our work-relationship "status" in real time, as well?
Just imagine the possibilities. Our work relationship with one co-worker could be "complicated," while we've been in a "committed work relationship" with another co-worker since last year. Employees who have just given two-weeks' notice can be getting "divorced" from the company. Employees on 90-day work probation can be "separated." The recently-promoted employee can be "engaged" in new management duties, while the office workaholic is proud to be "married" to his or her work since 2009!
It's been unclear to me what the real management value of Facebook At Work is going to be, but it all makes sense now. The future of Facebook At Work is to let us know, in real time, who is getting along at work today. More importantly, it can let us know who is NOT getting along lately so we can avoid putting them on the same work teams! It's the up-to-the-second web of workplace politics laid bare online for everyone at work to see in an effort to increase overall workplace productivity!
Just think about how much time, and how much face, these up-to-the-work-day work relationship "statuses" could save the average closed-door manager, who might otherwise pair two co-workers on a project only to find out (too late!) that their work relationship has "it's complicated" written all over it. Egad, don't pair Jane with Jim -- they can't stand each other now! Don't you ever read Jane's relationship status updates? She says it's been 'complicated' since Tuesday! Now management can keep these two far apart, and cut down on the number of workplace morale problems! This social media "trend" was simply meant to be, because I can't think of any other productive, non-marketing-related reason for using social media on the job.
There are risks, though. On the one hand, our up-to-the-morning work-related break-ups could create some new problems around the office. What if one co-worker gets upset when another co-worker, without any warning, signals that her work relationship with this co-worker has taken a turn for the worse this afternoon? "Why are you doing this to me? Was it because I exploded a burrito in the break room microwave yesterday and didn't clean it up before you used it to reheat your fish leftovers?" Hey, nobody said we have to explain why we're breaking it off. And don't eat stinky fish leftovers at work. Please?
On the other hand, announcing to the company that a work relationship is either good or back "on" could make up for the risks and complications. We really, really like working with each other, and we want everyone in the office to know it! (But please don't cement this work relationship by putting your heads together in the office restroom to take a duck face selfie. That's going over the line.)
Updating our work relationships on the hour, and in real time, would surely to be a hit with the younger generation, which doesn't seem to know how not to put everything out there. The rest of us will simply have to turn the other cheek when using Facebook for work purposes. Status: It's complicated.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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