The Use of Social Media During Working Hours and Organizational Performance. Economic and Managerial Implications in the Private Sector

Social media has become embedded in daily work routines, shaping communication patterns and affecting attention, task execution, and exposure to digital risks. While social media can support information exchange and social capital, its uncontrolled use during working hours may reduce effective labour utilisation and generate measurable economic costs. This study examines the prevalence and patterns of social media use during working hours and explores their managerial and economic implications for organisational performance in the private sector. A structured questionnaire was administered to 50 private-sector employees. The results show that 78% of respondents use social media during working hours, and 76% report an absence of clear organisational rules regulating such use. Instagram (34%), Facebook (26%), and TikTok (20%) are the most frequently used platforms, indicating a predominance of entertainment- and feed-based applications. Beyond productivity concerns, 52% report that social media affects mood, and 32% report experiencing online blackmail, signalling non-trivial psychosocial and cybersecurity risks. Using a conservative wage-cost illustration anchored on a €350 gross monthly salary, the study estimates that 30 minutes of non-productive use per day among affected employees can imply annual wage-cost losses exceeding €10,000 for an organisation of similar size, excluding additional hidden costs such as switching times, errors, and reputational exposure. The analysis further argues that reduced effective workforce capacity may strengthen managerial incentives toward process automation and technological substitution, potentially contributing to workforce reduction or non-replacement dynamics. The paper concludes with actionable governance recommendations, emphasising outcome-based performance management, digital awareness, and proportional policies that protect productivity while avoiding counterproductive overtsurveillance.