Admit it – you check your Facebook and Twitter accounts while you’re at work. I know I do. (Oh wait . . . I work from home . . . guess I’m off the hook!) According to Office Arrow:

Examining the online habits of oil and gas professionals, Microsoft Corp. and their partner, Accenture, found that many workers believe that social-networking tools could enhance their job performance. In fact, 40 percent of survey respondents said that organizations could reap tremendous benefits if they promoted information-sharing through social networking. Why? Well, thanks to Facebook’s minute-by-minute status updates and “fan” pages, these workers can connect with other professionals in their field and bounce ideas off one another. However, you don’t have to work in the petroleum industry to benefit from this Web wonder.

Accenture’s Middle East Managing Executive, Omar Boulos, for one, believes that the possibilities of social networking are endless. “Companies are dealing with several trends right now, not only the aging workforce walking out the door with decades of knowledge, but also experienced hires coming into their businesses who need to understand a new corporate culture,” he says. “[They] have an opportunity to supplement their existing collaboration capabilities with newer tools, such as podcasts and social networks, to accelerate the sharing of knowledge, increase teaming, and augment communication between their workforces in different regions.”

OK, so this study doesn’t have any stats to show a boost in job performance, but the next time you’re clock watching and wondering if your boss will care if you jump on Facebook, just remember . . . you’re actually enhancing your work output. So go ahead, send that Tweet!

And as long as you’re avoiding those monthly budget reports, why not check out a new social networking site exclusively for lesbians? Lesbian Lush has budget-friendly dating tips, plus suggestions for finding great travel deals. Don’t forget to join the Queercents group on Facebook, and you can now follow us on Twitter.

What do you think? Does social networking provide the possibility of really improving professional connections? Or is it just a time suck?