The Business Risks of Instant Messagers

Many businesses use instant messager programs as a way to communicate with colleagues, vendors and customers, but is it really safe? Although instant messagers offer convenience and efficiency, they can also become a severe corporate liability. Just like e-mail and anything else you write on paper, once you send an instant message, you can never take it back, and the text can be saved for future reference. When your business uses an instant messager program, you should be aware of the risks.

The Business Risks of Instant Messagers: Discrimination

One of the largest risks posed by instant messagers is the possibility for discrimination. Instant messaging provides a virtual shield between correspondants, creating the anonymity  that makes the Internet so attractive. People are more bold when they are using instant messaging and e-mail than when they are conducting face-to-face conversations. So when employees are given the ability to "talk" via instant messager on company time, there is a greater risk of one employee discriminating against another.

The Business Risks of Instant Messagers: Promises

One of the ways that instant messager is helpful is when you have an employee who has regular and direct contact with customers or clients. When that employee is out of the office, customers can contact him or her via instant messager, even when they are met with an "away" message. Although this is obviously convenient, however, it does pose a liability similar to that presented by e-mail. Promises that employees make to customers or vendors over instant messager cannot be empty. Instant messages can be saved and used later as evidence, so if your employee promises a customer a discount, he or she must follow through.

The Business Risks of Instant Messagers: Netspeak