Keeping in touch with your mates during the working day is becoming less of an option for thousands of workers across the country as a growing number of employers clamp down on the use of social networking websites.
Popular sites such as Facebook have been highlighted as a growing concern for many employers, worried that they distract employees and impact upon productivity.
In a survey carried out by IT firm Sophos it was found that 43 per cent of employees have been banned form using social networking sites in the workplace, perhaps indicative of a growing tide of stricter enforcement of IT policies.
Of those firms which had not banned access, the reason cited for not doing so was a fear of employee backlash.
"More businesses are restricting access to these kinds of sites," commented Sophos spokesman Graham Cluley.
"Employees may not like it, but these websites can represent a security risk if used carelessly."
Meanwhile a growing number of employers are using Facebook to check prospective employees, according to reports.
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