While some think Facebook (News - Alert) needs to be given up, others recognize the benefit. Employers are especially beginning to come around to the fact that allowing employees to use it work can actually yield happier work environments. 

A new report of various IT professionals shows that more and more companies believe their employees need to be allowed to use Facebook occasionally, and permitting the social network will make happier workers.

Facebook has seen an increase in users every year. Social networking in general has had to keep up with the demand by offering new features that keep users happy. Now companies that ask their employees to work longer hours and from home as well as the office understand that they may have to make concessions happy. 

Gartner (News - Alert) reports that at least one way to keep employees content is by no longer blocking sites like Facebook at their offices. In 2010, almost half of private companies were actively blocking access to Facebook and sites of that ilk. The research company said that by 2014, just 30 percent of those companies will still block the site.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about these numbers is not that employers are loosening their restrictions about 10 percent a year, but that so many enterprise companies will still prohibit social networking sites in 2014. Many understand that when people surf to Facebook they are rarely spending the entire day there. 

People may need a stress outlet during long workdays. Someone putting in 12 hour days locked at their desk could benefit from the ability to have a little fun from time to time. More are realizing happy employees are productive employees, but those who are wary of the ability to police which sites, and how long, are rightfully hesitant to hop aboard.