The proliferation of social media, and the ease of access to technology, is blurring the boundary between work and play.

As a result, businesses and individuals need to consider how much digital communication they are prepared to use and to think about what they do online, an audience of 65 heard at a seminar hosted by Carey Olsen’s employment team.

Senior associate Huw Thomas said that social media policies needed to be sensible, dynamic and achievable, realising the benefits it can bring in attracting prospective staff and maintaining staff morale.

But policies also need to consider how much a business communicates through such methods and how much it will allow staff to use social media in the workplace.

Advocate Mark Dunster (pictured), who headed the panel of speakers from the law firm, said: ‘The increase in readily-available social media and networking tools is something that employers cannot afford to ignore.