A recent survey from eMarketer.com seems to show that U.S. executives are warming up to social media usage in the workplace.

Out of 438 management, marketing and human resources executives polled, 81% saw social media as being useful for both brand-building and enhancing customer or client relationships. Just under 70% see it as a valuable recruitment tool, 64% think social media is useful for customer service, and a lower sampling at 46% saw it as improving employee morale.
Read More: http://mashable.com/2009/09/10/executives-social-media/