A. Informal Communication: Employees may use instant messaging technologies in the conduct of City business where informal communication is appropriate.
B. Retention Of Information: Instant messaging should be considered as similar to a telephone conversation. No record of the correspondence is retained once the instant message program has been shut down. However, employees are responsible for capturing information contained in an instant message where, in the employee's best judgment, the information should be retained. Employees are responsible for the appropriate use of instant messaging.
C. Record Series: If the employee saves the communications conducted in an instant message thread in any format digital or printed, a record series is created and the records management procedures and retention schedules for e-mail are applicable. (2019 Compilation)