City of Greensboro Personnel Policy Manual

City of Greensboro Personnel Policy Manuał

Table of Contents A B C D E F H I J K L List of Appendices G Policy Manual include information about employees who work with social media on behalf of the City and employees’ use of City owned equipment. 4.0 DEFINITIONS 4.1 Blog (-s, -ging) - A frequently updated web page used for personal commentary or business content. Blogs are often interactive and include sections at the bottom of individual blog posts where readers can leave comments. 4.2 Livestream (-s, -ing) - Interacting online in real time with a video feed, chat, or some other form of communication. 4.3 Public Speech - Any verbal or written speech that is, or has the potential to be received, read, and/or heard by others. 4.4 Social Media - Includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. This is not an exhaustive list given the creation and popularity of new, evolving technologies and platforms. 5.0 ORGANIZATIONAL RULES 5.1 City employees are free to express themselves as private residents on social media and in public to the extent that what they share does not disparage or bully other employees or their family members; negatively impact working relationships; impede performance; and/or create dissension or disruption among employees or workgroups. 5.2 Working in the public sector, City (public) employees are cautioned that speech on or off duty may not be protected speech under the First Amendment and may form the basis for discipline. City employees should assume that their speech and related activity on social media can reflect upon their employment and the City. 5.3 Regarding information that is not public and/or part of City employees’ roles and responsibilities, City employees may not divulge or disseminate confidential information gained by reason of their position; make any statements, speeches, appearances, and endorsements or post and/or publish materials that could reasonably be considered to represent the views or positions of the City without express authorization from the City Manager’s Office (CMO), their Department Director, or designee. 5.4 City employees should be aware that their personal use of social media and public speech online can live on indefinitely. Any posting, re-posting or sharing on social media or engaging in public speech that contains obscene or sexually explicit language, images, or acts and statements or other forms of speech that ridicule, malign, disparage, harass or otherwise express bias against any protected class of individuals is prohibited and can lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from employment. 5.5 City employees should be aware that privacy settings and social media sites are constantly changing, and they should never assume that what they say and share on such sites is private and

H - Employee Success Partnership

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