Posture Podiatry
Social Media Policy
Contents:
- Policy Statement
- Who is Covered by this Policy?
- Scope and Purpose of the Policy
- Personnel Responsible for Implementing this Policy
- Compliance with Related Policies
- Personal Use of Social Media
- Monitoring
- Responsible Use of Social Media
- Review of this Policy
1. Policy Statement:
Posture Podiatry recognises that the internet provides unique opportunities to participate in interactive discussions and share information on particular topics using a wide variety of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs and wikis. However, employees’ use of social media can pose risks to Posture Podiatry’s confidential and proprietary information, reputation and brand, and can jeopardise our compliance with legal obligations.
To minimise these business and legal risks, to avoid loss of productivity and distraction from employees’ job performance and to ensure that the company’s IT resources and communications systems are used only for appropriate business purposes, Posture Podiatry expects its employees to adhere to the following guidelines and rules regarding use of social media.
Apart from personal use of social media in accordance with this policy, Posture Podiatry encourages its employees to participate responsibly in these media as a means of generating interest in Posture Podiatry’s products and services and creating business opportunities so long as all of Posture Podiatry’s rules and guidelines regarding social media usage, particularly in a business context are adhered to.
2. Who is Covered by this Policy?
All individuals working at the clinic, including all staff who are employed by Posture Podiatry are to abide by this policy, which may also be amended at any time.
3. Scope and Purpose of the Policy
This policy deals with the use of all forms of social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Wikipedia, all other social networking sites, and all other internet postings, including blogs.
It applies to the use of social media for both business and personal purposes, whether during office hours or otherwise. The policy applies regardless of whether the social media is accessed using out computer facilities and equipment, or equipment belonging to members of staff.
Breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Disciplinary action may be taken regardless of whether the breach is committed during work hours, and regardless of whether our equipment or facilities are used for the purpose of committing the breach. Any member of staff suspected of committing a breach of this policy will be required to cooperate with our investigation, which may involve handing over relevant passwords and login details.
Staff may be required to remove internet postings which are deemed to constitute a breach of this policy. Failure to comply with such a request may in itself result in disciplinary action.
4. Personnel Responsible for Implementing this Policy
The director of Posture Podiatry has overall responsibility for the effective operation of this policy.
All staff are responsible for the success of this policy and should ensure they take the time to read and understand it.
5. Compliance with Related Policies
Social media should never be used in a way that breaches any of our other policies, for example:
-Breach of our confidentiality policy
-Breach of the professional code of conduct for podiatrists
-Defame or disparage Posture Podiatry, it’s affiliates, clients, partners, or suppliers
-Harass or bully other staff in any way
-Breach our data protection policy
-Breach any other laws or ethical standards
Staff should never provide references for other individuals on social or professional networking sites – the reasons for this is because such references, positive or negative, can be attributed to Posture Podiatry and create legal liability for both the author of the reference and the company.
6. Personal Use of Social Media
We recognise that employees may occasionally desire to use social media for personal activities at the clinic or by means of our computers, networks and other IT resources and communication systems. We authorise such occasional use so long as it does not involve unprofessional or inappropriate content and does not interfere with your employment responsibilities or productivity.
While using social media at work circulating chain letter or other spam is never permitted. Circulating or posting commercial, personal or political solicitations, or promotion of outside organisations unrelated to Posture Podiatry’s business are also prohibited.
7. Monitoring
The contents of our IT resources and communications systems are the property of Posture Podiatry. Therefore, staff should have no expectation of privacy in any message, files, data, document, facsimile, telephone conversation, social media post conversation or message, or any other kind of information or communications transmitted to, received or printed from, or stored or recorded on our electronic information and communications systems.
We reserve the right to monitor activities including but not limited to social media postings, and you consent to such monitoring by your acknowledgement of this policy and your use of our resources and systems.
We suggest you do not use our IT resources and communications systems for any matter that you wish to be kept private or confidential from the company.
8. Responsible Use of Social Media
The following section of the policy provides you with common-sense guidelines and recommendations for using social media responsibly and safely.
-The professional code of conduct prohibits you from posting disparaging or defamatory statements about the company or its business interests, but you should also avoid social media communications that might be misconstrued in a way that could damage the Posture Podiatry’s goodwill and business reputation, even indirectly.
-Make it clear in your social media postings that you are speaking on your own behalf. Write in the first person and use your personal e-mail address when communicating via social media.
-You are personally responsible for what you communicate in social media. Remember that what you publish might be available to be read by the masses (including the company itself, future employers and social acquaintances) for a long time. Keep this in mind before you post content.
-If you disclose your affiliation as an employee of Posture Podiatry, it is recommended that you also include a disclaimer that your views do not represent those of your employer. For example, consider such language as “the views in this posting do not represent the views of my employer.” Use good judgment about what you post and remember that anything you say can reflect on Posture Podiatry, even if you do include a disclaimer.
-Always strive to be accurate in your communications and remember that your statements have the potential to result in liability for yourself or Posture Podiatry.
-Be respectful to Posture Podiatry and be professional and honest in your communications. Avoid posting comments about sensitive business-related topics, such as our performance.
-If you are uncertain or concerned about the appropriateness of any statement or posting, refrain from making the communication until you discuss it with the director.
-If you see content in social media that disparages or reflects poorly on us, you should contact the director. Protecting Posture Podiatry’s goodwill, brands and reputation is the responsibility of each individual connected to the company.
Respecting intellectual property and confidential information:
-All staff should treat our trade secrets and other confidential information and intellectual property accordingly and not do anything to jeopardise them through the use of social media.
-In addition, you should avoid misappropriating or infringing the intellectual property of other companies and individuals, which can create liability for yourself and for us.
-Do not use the company’s logos, brand names, taglines, slogans or other trademarks, or post any confidential or proprietary information of the company, without prior written permission from the director.
-The contact details of business contacts made during the course of your employment are regarded as our confidential information, and as such you will be required to delete all such details from your personal social networking accounts, including but not limited to Facebook and LinkedIn on termination of employment.
Respect and comply with terms of use of all sites you visit:
-Do not expose yourself or Posture Podiatry to legal risk by using a social media site in violation of its terms of use. Review the terms of use of all social media sites you visit and ensure your use complies with them. Pay particular attention to terms relating to the following:
- Prohibitions or restrictions on the use of the social media site, including prohibitions or restrictions on use for advertising, marketing and promotions or other commercial purposes (for example, Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities ( (its terms of use) prohibit businesses from administering promotions through Facebook without Facebook’s prior written consent).
- Ownership of intellectual property used on, or information collected or generated through use of, the site (for example, any of the company’s copyrighted material and trademarks that might be posted on the site, or customer information the company collects through the site).
- Requirements for licenses or other grants allowing use by the site owner and other third parties of the company’s trademarks or other intellectual property.
- Privacy rights and responsibilities of the site owner and users.
Respecting Colleagues, clients, partners and suppliers:
-Do not post anything that your colleagues or our customers, clients, business partners, supplier or other stakeholders would find offensive, including discriminatory comments, insults or obscenity.
-Do not post anything related to your colleagues or our customers, clients, business partners, supplier or other stakeholders without their written permission.
9. Review of this Policy
Staff are invited to comment on this policy and suggest ways in which it might be improved by contacting the director.
Acknowledgement of Receipt:
I have received and read a copy of the Posture Podiatry Social Media Policy and understand its contents. I understand that Posture Podiatry expressly reserves the right to change, modify or delete its provisions without notice.
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