Tworkers!

Twitter in the workplace.

Have you thought about it? Would you, oh powerful and forward-thinking big boss, allow your employees to use it in the office?

(Disclaimer: Call me bold and presumptuous for making management decisions while I as yet don't even have a job. I say, putting the cart before the horse is fine when you have a lot of time on your hands.)

So, here are the arguments:

*Cynics would say allowing employees to Twitter at work (twork--God bless the 21st century with its spike in newfangled words) wastes time and opens a company to potentially harmful comments by employees.

*I am of the opposite camp, in agreement with the author of this story. Twitter is not going anywhere fast, so acknowledging its presence and creating a policy is important, not to mention an asset to your company. It's Twintelligent!

Here's why:

Tworkers are extroverts. They like showing off, which can be a huge benefit to your company.

Tworkers like that community feeling that Twitter helps to create. This could mean that they are open to sharing and compassionate.

Tworkers are open to trying new things. In the thick of the new media frontier, this is important if you want your company to innovate.

Tworkers make friends with people they don't know. As long as this employee is on your side, this is a great asset.

Tworkers are concise. Getting straight to the point is important when you only have 140 characters to do it in.

And I'll add one: It can it be a great (and free) PR tool to distribute your message, and a way to see what people are saying about you.

Finally, you can learn a ton about your industry and competitors with Twitter.

I used to be a cocktail waitress at an upscale hotel. Drinking on the job was forbidden. I vowed that if I ever owned a bar, I would allow employees one pre-work cocktail. In my eyes, as long as you know its happening, its practical to create a policy for it.

Not to mention that some upscale hotel guests are easier to manage when you've had a stiff drink or two.