The report, from Siemens Enterprise Communications, found that more than 60% of adult respondents are using social media, but 62% of businesses still have a company policy of no social media participation in the working environment.
As well as revealing slower acceptance of social media, the study suggests clear differences in how consumers and business use social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
The analysis of 1500 consumers by Siemens found that a clear majority (over 60%) use social media and nearly one in three (30%) want to interact with businesses via social media.
And in a separate study of 1000 office workers, Siemens also found that 30% do not participate in social networking in the work place or aren't aware of their company's participation in social networking activity.
More surprisingly, however, the firm discovered that over 60% of businesses still don't have a formal social networking policy in place.
Stephanie Watson, general manager of analyst firm MZA, said that she was surprised by the findings since technologies such as mobile communications and social media were primarily driven by consumer needs.
The reluctance of companies to adopt or put effective policies in place, she says, is a missed opportunity to conduct business, improve customer care and retention or simply keep workforce informed and engaged.
Chris Hummel, Siemens Enterprise Communications' chief marketing officer, said that the intersection of social media with enterprise unified communications is inevitable and growing rapidly in its impact.
"Our research shows customer intimacy and access can be greatly enhanced, and enterprise users can improve productivity and collaboration, by leveraging social media in the business communications mix", he said.