I am unsure what to do in this situation. The institution where I work has IM installed on our PC's so we can communicate with out using the telephones. I guess there is a group of employees that IM each other and do not included all members of the department. You can hear the keyboards then laughter and the people that are not included feel like outsiders. It is causing alot of tension in the office. Any suggestions on the direction I should take with these 3 employees?

make them all watch 24 hours of Nicholas Cage movies, that will teach them

Send an IM to everyone that is not included in the pack of three and then you all start laughin...they will wonder..

Final Warning - non-business use of business assets and resources. Sort of like coming into the Cooler...

Form a group of your own with the "outsiders" then the others will feel left out. fire with fire.

bring doughnuts but don't share.

You could remind them that the IM program is for bank use only, and that the benefit will be taken away if abuse of the priviledge continues. Don't mention names, just announce it in a department meeting. If the problem persists, talk to the individuals individually...

Hey search, are all your shoe poses your leg and shoes??

if you are their supervisor, tell them that IM is not for personal but business use. if you are a peer, next time it happens stand up and ask what is so funny.

or, grow up and ignore them. this sounds very petty...

Oh......grow up.

Quit crying.
Let me guess.....either you're a woman...or you should be.

I am not trying to be a hard nose, but I cannot even sympathize with you on this one. People get left out for a reason. Acting like this is probably why you are being left out. Maybe they don't like you. They do not have to include you in everything they do. If things like this bothers you, maybe you should consider working at home.

This is probably the most immature and ridiculous gripe I've seen as a thread.
Next thing ya know, people will start talking to each other!
Someone may even...dare I say it?......someone may even laugh and not explain why.

We have something siimliar at our bank. I consider it an important tool, because I don't want to be leaving voice messages on the phone for minor things I need to ask the people upstairs. Also, running up the stairs to find the person is not at their desk wastes my time. (Although I can use the exercise.)

Usually, I will type a question. The person, if at their desk, will answer immediately. If I think of something funny or cute to send back, I do. I believe a light attitude keeps morale up. Sometimes they send back something that makes me chuckle. I am NOT spending tons of time on the IM system, I am NOT consciously leaving people out, or creating a "clique" atmosphere. I just had business with that employee and we shared a smile.

No harm intended.

No matter what, where, when, or why... there will always be "CLIQUES".. ya just gotta' brush them aside and move on with life...