Websurfing at Work Is Good for You

A new study suggests there's no harm — and plenty of benefit — in hitting up Facebook or Twitter on the job.

By Katie Sanders

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Minimizing windows to hide your Facebook-friending from the boss? Don't bother. A recent University of Melbourne study suggests a quick Tweet between meetings is good for you and your company, finding that people who browsed the Web at work in moderation (less than 15 percent of the workday) were 9 percent more productive than their fully focused coworkers. Study author Brent Coker, Ph.D., attributes this to the concentration restoration that occurs during web-surfing micro-breaks, plus the autonomy of knowing your employer trusts you to manage yourself. The more enjoyable the distraction (think YouTube vs. paying bills), the more recharged and productive you'll be. Check out Coker's tips for making Web use at work even more productive:

· Get a LinkedIn account. Think of it as your digital résumé—post a photo and use the forums to connect with coworkers and their contacts.

· Make Google Alerts do your job. Flag keywords (your name, competitors, and products); related headlines will automatically hit your inbox.

· Visit reputationhawk.com's "Online Reputation Management Survival Kit" before applying for a new job to salvage any questionable search results for free.

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