http://www.noslang.com/im.

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Colleges all over America are blocking standard Instant

Messaging ports, yet strangely more and more businesses are
encouraging employees to use IM. Especially in large offices, IM
is much quicker than using the telephone or sending email.

While many companies have been quick to embrace the IM

technology, they've been reluctant to integrate any set policies
for its use; and this can turn out badly for the employee who over
uses IM.
Here is a straightforward guide to using IM in the workplace:

Don't overdo it. A lot of employees tend to overuse IM, and

waste valuable hours talking to friends and family. Chats with
employees should be short and professional ("here's that website
link", or "can we meet over lunch to discuss this proposal?").

Use your away message. If you're working, use your away or

status message (or at the very least your profile) to let people
know you're busy, then just glance at it to see if a coworker is
trying to talk to you.

Don't talk about confidential information. IM isn't secure, so you

shouldn't be using it to discuss company secrets.

Make sure you stick to company policy. Ask your supervisor if you
can install an IM client like AIM, MSN, Yahoo, or ICQ. While
some companies understand the huge benefits of using IM at
work others severely frown upon its use as a waste of time, so
make sure you find out which category your company belongs to.

Don't use slang. You won't impress the boss by using "lol" instead
Mark what is true [T] or false of
[F] aaccording
period (.) to the every
after text (correct
sentence; when it’s false):
supervisors just aren't
1. Some companies are in favor ofimpressed
the use of
by IM
IM at work; others are against its use. [ ]
slang.
____________________________________________________________________
2. The number of companies encouraging their employees to use IM at work is increases
more and more. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________
3. The excessive use of IM at work is a waste of time. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________
4. If you are working you should set your status as “busy”. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________
5. You should use IM according to your company’s policy. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________
6. The companies that allow IM use at work are reluctant to adopt a policy for its use. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________
7. Slang is highly recommendable to avoid waste of time at work. [ ]
____________________________________________________________________

Answer the questions about the text:
1. What are colleges doing? What about business
companies?
______________________________________
2. Why do you think companies allow IM while
colleges are blocking them?
______________________________________
3. What are the advantages of using IM for
communication with other employees and clients?
______________________________________
4. What are the disadvantages?
______________________________________
5. What will happen if you overuse IM while
working?
______________________________________
6. Why shouldn’t confidential information be
discussed using IM?
______________________________________
Complete with the suitable question tag:
1. A lot of employees tend to overuse IM,
________________?
2. IM is much quicker than using the telephone or
sending email, ______________________?
3. Chats with employees should be short and
professional, _______________________?
4. IM isn't secure, ____________________?
5. You shouldn't be using it to discuss company
secrets, ____________________?
6. They've been reluctant to integrate any set
policies for its use,
__________________________?
7. You won't impress the boss by using "lol" instead
of a period (.) after every sentence,
________________?
8. Some companies understand the huge benefits of
using IM at work, ______________________?
Personal Questions:
1. What’s your favorite IM software?
________________________________
2. How often do you use IM?
________________________________
3. What kind of people do you communicate
in IM (friends, family, coworkers, etc.)?
________________________________
4. Do you think IM is a secure way of
communication? Why (not)?
________________________________
5. Do you think IM makes you waste time?
How?
________________________________
6. Do you think the increasing of
communication using IM is making people
less used to face-to-face communication?
Why do you think so?
________________________________
________________________________
Explain why some companies adopted
the use of IM at work and summarize
its use etiquette:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
__
1. Some companies are in favor of the use of IM Complete with the suitable question tag:
at work; others are against its use. [ T ] 1. A lot of employees tend to overuse IM, DON’T

2. The number of companies encouraging their THEY?

2. IM is much quicker than using the telephone or
employees to use IM at work is increases more
sending email, ISN’T IT?
and more. [ T ]
3. Chats with employees should be short and
3. The excessive use of IM at work is a waste of
professional, SHOULDN’T THEY?
time. [ T ] 4. IM isn't secure, IS IT?
4. If you are working you should set your status 5. You shouldn't be using it to discuss company
as “busy”. [ T ] secrets, SHOULD YOU?
5. You should use IM according to your company’s 6. They've been reluctant to integrate any set policies
policy. [ T] for its use, HAVEN’T THEY?
6. The companies that allow IM use at work are 7. You won't impress the boss by using "lol" instead of
a period (.) after every sentence, WILL YOU?
reluctant to adopt a policy for its use. [ F ]
8. Some companies understand the huge benefits of
SOME COMPANIES ARE RELUCTANT; OTHER
using IM at work, DON’T THEY?
HAVE A POLICY.
7. Slang is highly recommendable to avoid waste
of time at work. [ F ]
YOU SHOULD AVOID SLANG AT WORK.

Answer the questions about the text:

1. What are colleges doing? What about business
companies?
WHILE COLLEGES ARE BLOCKING IM, MORE
AND MORE COMPANIES ARE ADOPTING IT AT
WORK.
2. Why do you think companies allow IM while colleges
are blocking them?
(PERSONAL ANSWER)
3. What are the advantages of using IM for
communication with other employees and clients?
IM IS QUICKER THAN PHONE CALLS OR
SENDING EMAILS.
4. What are the disadvantages?
PEOPLE TEND TO OVERUSE IT AND WASTE
TIME AT WORK.
5. What will happen if you overuse IM while working?
YOU WILL WASTE TIME.
6. Why shouldn’t confidential information be
discussed using IM?
BECAUSE IM ISN’T SECURE.