Abstract
Background: In today’s digital age, the widespread use of social media has blurred the lines between professional and personal spheres, prompting organisations to rethink the use of such platforms in the workplace. This study was motivated by growing concerns about the misuse of social media in the workplace and the lack of a formal set of rules governing its use.
Purpose: The study explored the perceptions of Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) perceptions of regulation social media usage in the workplace, for which there is currently no formal policy.
Method: A qualitative research design was chosen, using a case study approach to gain in-depth insights. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with selected employees to understand their experiences and views on social media regulation in the workplace. A sample size of 13 research participants was used to obtain insights on employees’ perception regarding the regulation of social media in the workplace.
The findings: These show that most employees support the regulation of social media use by the employer and perceive it to be a necessary step to curb abuse and to protect the company's interests. Although there is no formal social media policy at Stats SA, informal regulatory measures have been established such as restricting access to social media platforms on workplace devices. The study concluded that a comprehensive social media policy is essential to manage employee behaviour, reduce risks, and improve the company’s integrity.
Practical implications: These include the recommendation for public sector organisations to develop context-specific social media policies that strike a balance between employee autonomy and institutional accountability. The study also contributes to the growing body of knowledge on digital governance in the workplace and lays a foundation for future research in this area.
Conclusion: The research study found that Statistics South Africa does not have a formal social media policy that regulates the use of social media during working hours and outside the workplace. This aligns with a broader perspective, suggesting that several organisations have still not developed social media policies to manage the use...