Effective from August 2017
Approved by: Chief Executive Officer
If employees use social networking platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) during work hours, or to publish content regarding the Company, its employees or customers, he or she must comply with this policy, whether within or outside of the workplace or hours of work. This policy equally applies to any personal blogs employees may operate.
The Company respects employees’ rights to use social networking sites as a medium for their personal communication and self-expression. However, the Company requires all employees and contractors to ensure that the interests of co-workers and the reputation and business of the Company are protected.
Information employees post online, including on social media platforms such as Facebook, is not like having a verbal conversation with a person or group of people. This equally applies to LinkedIn and any posts employees make regarding their work.
‘Conversations’ or posts online are in electronic form and have potentially wider circulation than a personal discussion. The nature of social media platforms means that comments might easily be forwarded on to others, widening the audience for their publication. Even if employees limit the privacy settings on their social media platform to ‘friends’ or ‘contacts’, those ‘friends’ or ‘contacts’ might include employees, clients or contractors of the Company.
Further, social media platforms leave an often-permanent written record of statements and comments made by people. These can be read at any time in the future until they are taken down and, because of the nature of the Internet, it can be difficult (if not impossible) to remove information.
Employees should therefore exercise considerable care in using social networking sites and be aware that making comments or conducting conversations that relate to employees, clients or contractors of the Company can affect the reputation and business of the Company.
Unless the Company provides prior written permission, the Company does not allow employees to post the following information on any social media platform.
Confidential Information of the Company
Employees must make sure that they do not disclose or use the confidential information of the Company or its clients or customers on any website. The confidential information of the Company is information held or communicated in any manner, used or produced by the Company, whether or not marked as such, in the conduct of its business or relating to its financial affairs.
Intellectual property of the Company
Employees must make sure that you do not post any trademarks, proprietary information or other intellectual property of the Company or its clients or customers on a website.
Information relating to clients or customers
Employees must not refer to work they or anyone else are undertaking at the Company or for clients or customers of the Company.
Conducting business with clients or customers is also prohibited through the posting of information on social networking sites.
Content that disparages the Company, those who work for it and external parties
The Company’s goodwill and customer connections are dependent upon its reputation.
Employees must not post any content that disparages or is likely to have a harmful effect on the reputation or business of the Company.