Samsung Group is cracking down on what it sees as employees' abuse of IT systems at work, and has banned workers from accessing chat and instant message services from their desks.

The company had earlier imposed restrictions on its workers' use of email, and has now commissioned its Samsung SDS systems integration arm to create filters that prevent workers from accessing portals such as MSN Messenger and Daum Messenger, and also to intercept inbound chat and IM traffic from outside the company.

According to the Korea Times, the high-handed management decision has offended many employees, and has created widespread discontent. Samsung said that chat and IM services are detracting from staff productivity. However, its action could backfire.

Some employees say the structures will simply encourage them to make more phone calls, others said they were ashamed that their company felt the need to make its measures mandatory and could not trust employees to use discretion in accessing IT for non-work activity.

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