Social Media Policy Template
At the <Company Name>, we understand that social media can be a fun and rewarding way to share your life and opinions with family, friends and co-workers around the world. However, use of social media also presents certain risks and carries with it certain responsibilities. To assist you in making responsible decisions about your use of social media, we have established these guidelines for appropriate use of social media. This policy applies all employees who work for <Company Name>.
Guidelines
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 to your own or someone else’s website blog, journal or diary, personal web site, social networking or affinity web site, web bulletin board or a chat room, whether associated or affiliated with the <Company Name>, as well as any other form of electronic communication including but not limited to Messenger, WhatsApp or Text Messages. You are solely responsible for what you post online. Before creating online content, consider some of the risks and rewards that are involved. Keep in mind that any of your conduct that adversely affects your job performance, the performance of fellow employee or otherwise adversely affects members, customers, suppliers, people who work on behalf of the <Company Name> or the <Company Name> legitimate business interests may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Know and follow the rules
Carefully read these guidelines to ensure your postings are consistent with what is outlined in this policy. Inappropriate postings that may include discriminatory remarks, harassment, and threats of violence or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct will not be tolerated and may subject you to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Be respectful
Always be fair and courteous to fellow employees, customers, members, suppliers or people who work on behalf of <Company Name>. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to resolve work-related complaints by speaking directly with your co-workers or supervisors than by posting complaints to a social media outlet. Nevertheless, if you decide to post complaints or criticism, avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage employees, customers or suppliers, or that might constitute harassment or bullying. Examples of such conduct might include offensive posts meant to intentionally harm someone’s reputation or posts that could contribute to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion or any other status protected by law or company policy.
Be honest and accurate
Make sure you are always honest and accurate when posting information or news, and if you make a mistake, correct it quickly. Be open about any previous posts you have altered. Remember that the Internet archives almost everything; therefore, even deleted postings can be searched. Never post any information or rumors that you know to be false about <Company Name>Division, fellow associates, customers, suppliers, or people working on behalf of <Company Name>.
Post only appropriate and respectful content
- Maintain the confidentiality of <Company Name> private or confidential information. Such information may include information regarding the development of systems, processes, products, know-how and technology. Do not post internal reports, policies, procedures or other internal business-related confidential communications.
- Do not create a link from your blog, website or other social networking site to a <Company Name> website without identifying yourself as a <Company Name> Division associate.
- Express only your personal opinions. Never represent yourself as a spokesperson for <Company Name>. If <Company Name> is a subject of the content you are creating, be clear and open about the fact that you are a trainee and make it clear that your views do not represent those of <Company Name>, fellow trainees, customers, suppliers or people working on behalf of <Company Name>. If you do publish a blog or post online related to the work you do or subjects associated with <Company Name>, make it clear that you are not speaking on behalf of <Company Name>. It is best to include a disclaimer such as “The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of <Company Name>.”
Using social media at work
Refrain from using social media while on work time unless it is work-related as authorized by your manager or supervisor. Do not use <Company Name> email addresses to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use.
Retaliation is prohibited
<Company Name> prohibits taking negative action against any employee for reporting a possible deviation from this policy or for cooperating in an investigation. Any trainee who retaliates against another trainee or supervisor for reporting a possible deviation from this policy or for cooperating in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Media contacts
Employees should not speak to the media on the <Company Name> behalf without prior consultation with the marketing or public relations office. All such queries should be redirected accordingly.