Survey says . . .

Cisco surveyed college students and recently employed college graduates about the importance of internet access, social media use and access to mobile devices at work. The results should give pause to employers considering drastic policies curtailing use. Bottom line finding is a company's policies may affect job choice even more than salary. The findings are astonishing.

• 68% of employees and 71% of college students believe corporate devices should be used for social media and personal use
• 80% of college students want to choose their device
• More than two of five would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility.
• 50% of college students say they would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smart phone or mobile device
• 7 out of 10 students believe being regularly in an office is necessary
• Many respondents cite a mobile device as “the most important technology” in their lives
• Seven of 10 employees have “friended” their managers and coworkers on Facebook
• Two of five students have not bought a physical book (except textbooks) in two years
• two-thirds would choose the internet over a car
• one in three say the internet is as important as food, water and air.

Rather than focusing on an employer's legal right to control employees, some employers may derive substantial benefits if company policies permit employees internet access, social media use and mobile device use at work.