Its a really sticky area especially these days with a multitude of chat tools, email, twitter and social networking sites and employers face the difficult decision on how to manage these tools that can be beneficial for the business but also harmful.

Having been in and around businesses for some time now, it is clear to me that it is very tempting for employees to have a quick chat with friends, check Facebook or post a quick tweet. The question is, how much time is lost and what is the counter argument?

Of course most employees will argue vigorously that these tools are essential for their work or at the very least for their workplace happiness.That said, they would also argue that three-hour lunches are good for workplace happiness too!

As an employer myself, I try to be pretty relaxed about these tools, but must admit a certain pang of uneasiness if I walk past an employee's computer and see Facebook open. I do however believe that we need to put an onus of trust and responsibility on the employee. I trust you to be responsible for your time and actions. I think that unless it is abused (in which case you need to act quickly) the net effect is for a happier working environment which hopefully translates into a better one.

Some would argue that today is no different from 20 years ago. Back then it was the personal phone call, the extra long chat around the coffee machine - and what about the mandatory smokers break every hour or so? I think the main difference is that today it is more difficult to monitor as staff can look to be toiling away at their computers whilst really telling jokes with their friends online.

Ultimately it comes down to the age old problem of getting good staff who believe in your dream and not just a paycheck and want to work with you to achieve that dream.

What do you think?