If you owned a company..

[eakers]

I wouldn't. I have wasted too many days at work chatting to know that instant messaging is a waste of company time

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Yes, whatever keeps them happy

 

[FoBoT]

i would through a logged proxy so that i could record every message

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

As long as they're productive and it doesn't severely interefere with their work

 

[tm37]

It owuld depend on how it was being used.

I use IM at work FOR WORK!!!

So in my case yes It should be allowed.

Now we have somepeople that use it to chat with their buddiews so they should not be allowed to use it.

 

[bapace]

Would you allow them to use a personal cell phone at work? I would, and I would allow IM as well. But, I would log and mine through the logs looking for company sensitive information.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Block the external port for it.

 

[mwtgg]

Jabber.

 

[Mo0o]

Not a chance

 

[Schneider879]

Yeah I would.

 

[Aves]

We're required to have it at my job.

 

[ggnl]

I would let them do whatever they want as long as they get their work done.

 

[J0hnny]

Depends on the size of the company. With a smaller workgroup, it's easier to control and monitor any abuse.

 

[venk]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Block the external port for it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

yeah, as long as it doesn't get out of hand... if it did, then limit it to break times somehow? might be hard to control in a really large environment.

 

[yllus]

It's often encouraged in programming jorbs.

 

[Hammer]

we're required to have IM at work

 

[Zenmervolt]

My philosophy on this is like much else, as long as you're getting your work done without skidding in at the deadline, getting your work done well, not interfering with anyone else's ability to get their work done, and not making the company look bad I wouldn't care what they did with their time. They could go home and drink two 12-packs every night as long as they showed up sober in the mornings and didn't go out making trouble for others at night.

Now, the first person that didn't get his work done because he'd spent too much time on IM or something would wish he'd never been born...

ZV

 

[desteffy]

sure, but if they dont get work done, FIRED!!!!

 

[DoOLiE11]

we use it at our company, just to keep in touch with co-workers at other sites and buildings...its helpful and quick

 

[JFoobar]

Yes, so long it as it was:

A. Logged
B. Internal only

Allowing the use of traditional IM apps over external networks is a security disaster waiting to happen. Internally, however, it is often a more efficient form of communication than email and also is very helpful if you have any deaf employees.

 

[SpunkyJones]

No. I've seen it abused over and over, and idiots like me have to make up the work that the slackers don't do.

 

[Stumps]

Its the only way that i can make it through the day at work with out losing my sanity..IM is a god send

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: eakers
I wouldn't. I have wasted too many days at work chatting to know that instant messaging is a waste of company time

If it were a small company where I would have a decent idea of who is being productive and who is not...yes.

If it was a big company with many managers...hell no! People can spend all day chatting.