Spring Fire Department Social Networking Use Policy PDF

Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024...

Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use Social Networking Use 1. Executive Summary a. Procedures and Responsibilities: Members are solely responsible for their online posts and must consider the risks and rewards of their content, which can impact their job and the department5. b. Rules Compliance: Members must adhere to the department's policies, and any inappropriate postings can lead to disciplinary actions, including termination. c. Respectfulness: Posts should be fair and courteous, avoiding malicious or intimidating content that could harm reputations or contribute to a hostile work environment. d. Accuracy: Members should be honest in their posts, correct mistakes promptly, and avoid spreading false information. e. Confidentiality and Representation: Members must maintain confidentiality and not represent themselves as spokespersons for the department without authorization. f. Prohibited Use: The use of TikTok or any related service by ByteDance on department devices is strictly prohibited. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 1 of 6  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use 2. Purpose a. At Spring Fire Department, 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. 3. Policy Statement a. All members will comply with this policy while utilizing social networking of any kind. 4. Scope a. This guideline applies to all members. 5. Definitions a. See Glossary. 6. Procedures and Responsibilities a. 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 web log or blog, journal or diary, personal web site, social networking or affinity web site, web bulletin board or a chat room, whether or not associated or affiliated with Spring Fire Department, as well as any other form of electronic communication. Ultimately, 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 associates or otherwise adversely affects members, customers, suppliers, people who work on behalf of Spring Fire Department or Spring Fire Department’s legitimate business interests may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 2 of 6  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use b. Know and follow the rules i. Carefully read these guidelines, as well as the, Spring Fire Departments Statement of Ethics, Workplace Harassment/Sexual Harassment and Workplace Violence/Weapon Free Workplace Policies and ensure your postings are consistent with these policies. 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. c. Be respectful i. Always be fair and courteous to fellow associates, customers, members, suppliers or people who work on behalf of Spring Fire Department. Also, keep in mind that you are more likely to resolve work-related complaints by speaking directly with your co-workers or by utilizing our Open Door Policy, 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 customers, members, associates 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. d. Be honest and accurate i. 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 Spring Fire Department, fellow associates, members, customers, suppliers, people working on behalf of Spring Fire Department. e. Post only appropriate and respectful content i. Maintain the confidentiality of Spring Fire Department’s private or confidential information. Do not post internal reports, policies, procedures or other internal business- related confidential communications. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 3 of 6  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use ii. Do not create a link from your blog, website or other social networking site to a Spring Fire Department website without identifying yourself as a Spring Fire Department associate. f. Express only your personal opinions. i. Never represent yourself as a spokesperson for Spring Fire Department. If Spring Fire Department is a subject of the content you are creating, be clear and open about the fact that you are an associate and make it clear that your views do not represent those of Spring Fire Department, fellow associates, members, customers, suppliers or people working on behalf of Spring Fire Department. If you do publish a blog or post online related to the work you do or subjects associated with Spring Fire Department, make it clear that you are not speaking on behalf of Spring Fire Department. 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 Spring Fire Department.” g. Using social media at work i. The use of social media while at work is permitted, providing that it does not interfere with job duties and/or assignments. Do not use Spring Fire Departments email addresses to register on social networks, blogs or other online tools utilized for personal use. h. Retaliation is prohibited i. Spring Fire Department prohibits taking negative action against any associate for reporting a possible deviation from this policy or for cooperating in an investigation. Any associate who retaliates against another associate 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. i. Prohibited Social Media i. The social media service TikTok or any successor application or service developed or provided by ByteDance or an entity owned by ByteDance Limited; by executive order of the governor is prohibited on all department devices to include but not limited to: phones, laptops, desktops and iPads. j. Media contacts i. Associates should not speak to the media on behalf of Spring Fire Department without first contacting the Deputy Chief of Strategic Services or designee. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 4 of 6  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use 7. References & Related Policies a. This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. NFPA Applicable State or Federal Statutes OSHA Spring FD TCFP CPSE PI ISO TFCA Other: Texas Model Security Plan 8. Contact Office a. The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: i. Company Officer 1. District Chief a. HR Director i. Assistant Chief 1. Fire Chief 9. List of Changes Revision Approved Effective Description of Changes No. by Date 10. Errors See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 5 of 6  Spring Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 Standard Operating Guideline SFD.043 Revision No. 03 Issue Date 8 Aug. 2024 Effective Date 8 Aug. 2024 Approved by: ADMIN Review Date 1 Aug. 2025 GUIDELINE Reviewed by HR Scott C. Seifert Social Networking Use This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member’s legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline. SFD.043 Uncontrolled if printed Page 6 of 6