One in ten UK office workers under 35 have posted derogatory comments about their employer on social networking sites such as Facebook.

One in ten UK office workers under 35 have posted derogatory comments about their employer on social networking sites such as Facebook.

The number of those taking work grievances online halves among the over-45s, according to research commissioned by consultancy firm Croner.

Liz Iles, employment consultant at Croner, says young people’s attitudes towards their social and work lives are beginning to blur.

Adds Iles, ‘Some employees are spending excessive amounts of time during work hours accessing social networking sites. This can be costly for employers in terms of productivity, and could amount to a disciplinary offence.’

More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of those aged 25 to 34 use networks such as Facebook or LinkedIn to connect with colleagues, but only 15 per cent connect directly with their boss or line manager in this way, finds the study, which was conducted by YouGov and sampled 2,384 adults.