IM has to be one of the most annoying forms of workplace communication - agree or disagree?

*sparky* · February 2014

We have an internal IM system at work, which is nice for seeing when people are online and offline, in meetings, etc. but then I get little messages popping up all of the time and people want immediate responses. Sometimes I am in the middle of working on a schedule or something and cannot ping pong back and forth between that and IM and email.

So this morning I am working on a schedule and a CW starts IMing me - did you see so-and-so's email? I write back that I had not read it because I was in the middle of trying to finish my xyz schedule. So then she sends me a series of IM's summarizing the email, telling me what her email response was (which I can certainly read later), etc. And the things just keep popping up on my screen.

I would love to just sign out of IM but we are expected to be available on it. Drives me crazy!

mae0111 · February 2014

LibraryChica said:

I love IM. It reduces the need to talk to actual people. Ours has "busy" and "do not interrupt" settings that people generally respect, though.

All of this. I'm constantly on conference calls that take up hours on end, and I"m needed for 5-10 mins. I can keep the lines of communication open using IM. I do set the "busy" setting when needed.

I know others hate it, and they won't use it. THAT makes me crazy, because they don't get back to emails right away, either.

jf198400 · February 2014

I don't think the interruptions on IM are any different then someone popping into your office and interrupting you. Just set your status to busy and then ignore them.

cedenton · February 2014

LibraryChica said:

I love IM. It reduces the need to talk to actual people. Ours has "busy" and "do not interrupt" settings that people generally respect, though.

Ditto

aglenn · February 2014

It annoys me when people use it to tell me things that really should be in an email because they are either too long or are things I need to keep to refer back to later. Otherwise it doesn't bug me too much, and is good for sending snarky comments to each other during conference calls.

But we don't use it a ton in our office, so I get how it would be irritating if messages were popping up all the time.

*sparky* · February 2014

aglenn said:

It annoys me when people use it to tell me things that really should be in an email because they are either too long or are things I need to keep to refer back to later. Otherwise it doesn't bug me too much, and is good for sending snarky comments to each other during conference calls. But we don't use it a ton in our office, so I get how it would be irritating if messages were popping up all the time.

I do like it for this!

*sparky* · February 2014

I think you all are right - there are times it is very useful and an easy way to get a quick question answered. But there are certain contacts I have that will just keep IMing throughout the day and that is what is getting annoying. I will have to just do what @cjcouple suggested and say "sorry can't chat now. Will get back to you later." Otherwise it becomes a huge time suck.

ASmallWonder · February 2014

I love ours and hate when people aren't signed on.

DiveFrog · February 2014

I adore our internal IM system for many reasons. But what you are describing never happens because we have the ability to be signed in, but change and broadcast settings...Such as

-Available

-Idle (this pops up if you stop interfacing with your computer for too long, ex. Going to the restroom, talking on your phone or getting a coffee)

-In a Web-Ex Meeting

-On a conference Call

-Busy

And finally the one we use if you want people to know you are around, but NOT to IM you....Do Not Disturb!

It works very well. If people see the Do not disturb they just keep an eye on it, and IM you when you change your setting back to available, etc.

Also, the people I work with always have good IM manners and ask if you have time to chat as part of there greeting.

CarrieB. · February 2014

We have IM at our office but half of us (myself included) can't use it since we are investment registered. Seems pointless since we all can't use it.

JessAnnJ · February 2014

It is great for being able to use emoticons <:-P

And on a more serious note, it's nice to ask a quick question or have a quick conversation about something without creating more emails that I will have to delete from my almost full mailbox.

groovygrl · February 2014

I also like it. I generally try to start off with 'got a second'? if it is not something urgent or whatever & I also don't get upset if someone doesn't respond right away. I have found a lot of ppl where I work have no idea there is even IM or use it infrequently but those of us who use it use it a lot. Ours is recorded in the email inbox though so I'm careful about what is said in it, not that we don't share a recipe or a link to some silly thing once in awhile but I try not to get into any sensitive work related conversations on it.

jjdillie · February 2014

I love IM but not all locations in our company have it. The main person I deal with doesn't have it and I've been begging him to get it. He always sends quick emails that would be so much better through IM. Sometimes I forget to delete the emails so my inbox seems full but it's mostly just crap. Ours also has settings like busy or do not disturb.

MammaBear81 · February 2014

I wish we had IM chat, it would be easy to get quick responses from co workers. I answer the phone most of the time, and it would be nice to IM them who is on the phone (if they are on the phone) and tell them if they want to take the call or not. Right now I have to walk over to their office with a piece of paper with the name on it and they will give me a yes or no. Most of the time it's not important, but it's that ONE call that they wanted to take that gets missed and then people are annoyed.

On the other hand it's nice to get out of my chair every now and then and walk around the office

aibrean · February 2014

Love. It's less intrusive/interruptive and since our building is not one story, beats me having to go up and down stairs asking simple questions. Not everyone has a phone either.

C12H22O11 · February 2014

I love IM. I use it all the time. However, ours has Do Not Disturb, In a Meeting and Away settings, so if I'm in the middle of something, I'll switch it to one of those.