Breaking Bad Habits: The Negative Effect of Email and Instant Messaging on the Workplace

The use of electronic messaging has grown rapidly in recent years as it enables us to communicate in ways that we have not been able to in the past. Although its ease of use, quickness, and ability to reach many individuals at one time make it attractive communication medium, these characteristics can lead to negative consequences. This paper highlights the problems with electronic messaging in the workplace and shows what can be done to increase employee communication effectiveness, in terms of changing the way employees work and how the next generation of electronic messaging applications will enable employees to become more productive.