Policy Reference
| Category | Computer and User Policies | |||
| Approval Date | ||||
| Scope | All Personnel | |||
Purpose
To identify when it is not appropriate to utilize social networking websites as an employee of the City and the responsibilities an employee has in this regard.
Policy
- The City provides and maintains official social networking web sites ("social websites") per the Administration of Authorized Social Websites policy, which identifies the authorized use of social websites managed by the City.
- Employees may also be authorized to utilize social websites in conjunction with specific job assignments when essential to the effective collaboration of work-related tasks, projects or initiatives. Social website use for these purposes must be explicitly granted and limited to the approved tasks.
- Any unauthorized use of social websites is not considered a part of an employee's job and may not be done during work time. Examples of "social networking websites" may be found here, although this is not an exhaustive list of such sites.
- This policy seeks to balance the exercise of public employee's First Amendment rights of speech with requirements of the workplace. Those rights, however, are not unlimited and are subject to control and regulation of employee use.
- The City has an obligation to oversee the potential negative aspects of social web site utilization which may lead to inefficient use of employee time and computing resources, liability, privacy issues or other adverse impacts upon the workplace.
- When using City assets, a City e-mail address or otherwise having identified yourself as an employee (including but not limited to the posting of your position/title in your profile, listing your place of work or address, etc) employees must be aware that all actions are public and you will be held responsible for any and all said activities
- When using social web sites on personal time, employees are still expected to abide by all relevant City employee policies, including the following:
- Employees participating in online public discussion about the City of Lee's Summit and its services must include a disclaimer that employee involved is employed by the City and that the views being expressed do not necessarily represent those of the City.
Example "Although I am an employee of the City of Lee's Summit, these statements are my own and do not necessarily represent the position or opinion of the City of Lee's Summit"
- Any related postings (blogs, static web pages, etc) of which an employee is an author must post a similar disclaimer and may not mention information regarding City business or events which have not been reported by the City through the designated public information procedures.
- Employees are not protected by anonymity of electronic communication and may not make unauthorized posts during work time.
- Should an employee choose to identify themselves as an employee of the City of Lee's Summit on any social media account, the City reserves the right to require removal or modification of any pictures, video or other content which, intentionally or otherwise, may cast the City in an improper or unjustified negative light.
- Postings may constitute a basis for discipline, up to and including termination, if any post contains defamatory or false content, creates an unreasonable adverse effect on the workplace, exposes the City to liability or adversely affects public officials, employees, the public or the City without due cause. Alternatively, employees are encouraged to bring work related concerns to their supervisor for discussion and resolution.
- Employees may not disclose confidential information in any form including via social network websites.
- Use of authorized city social website ID's for personal social website use is prohibited.
- Employees are solely responsible for the legal implications of any unauthorized actions they take when participating on social media websites. The City will not be held liable for any litigation that results as part of your actions.
Compliance
- City Policy