Social Website Use

Policy Reference

Purpose

To identify when it is appropriate to utilize social networking websites as an employee of the City and the responsibilities an employee has in this regard.   Policy also addresses the responsibility of individual employees and city officials with regard to social media and the use of city resources (time/equipment), as well as responsibilities related to public records and open meeting laws.

Policy

1. The City of Lee's Summit understands that social networking and Internet services have become a common form of communication in the workplace and with customers, citizens and stakeholders.   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.
2. 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
3. Departments have the option of allowing employees 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 by your supervisor, are limited to the approved tasks only and must comply with all related city policies.
4. The City provides and maintains "official social networking web sites" for the purpose of providing social networking tools for city related business and communications per the   Administration of Authorized Social Websites policy.   The policy identifies the authorized use of social websites managed by the City.  
   1. Use of authorized city social website ID's for personal social website use is prohibited.
5. 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.
6. Employees are not protected by anonymity of electronic communication and may not make unauthorized posts during work time.
7. When using City computer assets, a City provided e-mail address or otherwise having identified yourself as an employee of the City of Lee's Summit (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.
8. Employees may not disclose confidential City information in any form including via social network websites.
9. This policy does not seek to control purely personal online content posted by City employees when that content is posted during non-working time, is posted using personal equipment, is unrelated to the City of Lee's Summit, is unrelated to an individual's position at the City, and is not otherwise disruptive to the City's mission.
   1. When using social web sites on personal time, employees must abide by any relevant City employee policies.
   2. Employees participating in online public discussion about the City of Lee's Summit or its services must include a disclaimer that the employee works for the City and that the views being expressed do not necessarily represent those of the City.   For 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."
   3. 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 (press release, posting on an official city site, etc).
   4. 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, postings or other content which, intentionally or otherwise, may cast the City in an improper or unjustified negative light.
   5. 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.
   6. 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

1. City of Lee's Summit Personnel Policy.