Instant Messaging Rules: A Business Guide to Managing Policies, Security, and Legal Issues for Safe IM Communication

IM Rule # 18: Notify Employees That They Have No Reasonable Expectation of Privacy—Even When Using Personal Instant Messaging Software.

Use your written IM policy and employee training program to drive home the point that, when it comes to workplace IM, employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Let the staff know that management intends to exercise its legal right to monitor IM transmissions, including those sent and received via personal IM tools on public networks.