ARTICLE 50 SOCIAL MEDIA PURPOSE The City of Coral Springs understands that advances in technology and changes in culture are factors that influence the organization in both positive and negative manners. Social media, in general, is one of these external influences and the City of Coral Springs has a duty to protect the reputation and integrity of the organization and its members, as well as to guard against liability and potential legal risk. SCOPE This policy applies to all City employees who engage in social networking. POLICY In the rapidly expanding world of electronic communication, social media can mean many things. Social media includes all means of communicating or posting information or content of any sort on the Internet, including web log or blog, personal website, social networking, web bulletin board or a chat room, as well as any other form of electronic communication. The same principles and guidelines found in the City’s policies apply to employee activities online. Ultimately, employees are solely responsible for what they post online. Before creating online content, employees need to consider some of the risks and rewards that are involved. Conduct that adversely affects the employee’s job performance, the performance of employee’s coworkers, or otherwise adversely affects customers may result in disciplinary action. GUIDELINES 1. Know and Follow the Rules Employees are responsible for reading and following this policy, as well as the Ethics Affirmation, Discipline Policy, and Anti-Harassment Policy to ensure their postings are consistent with these policies. Inappropriate postings that may include discriminatory remarks, obscene and pornographic material, harassment, and threats of violence or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated and may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. 2. Be Respectful Employees shall always be fair and courteous to coworkers, customers, suppliers, or people who work on behalf of the City. Employees shall keep in mind that they are more likely to resolve work-related complaints by speaking directly with coworkers or by utilizing the City’s Open-Door Policy than by posting complaints
107
