Responsible Social Media Postings. Ultimately, an employee is
responsible for what is posted online. Before creating online content,
an employee should consider the risks and rewards that are involved,
including how Social Media Postings may affect others who perform
services for or are employed with the City. Harassment, intimidation
or demeaning comments against such persons on social networking sites
may result in discipline up to and including dismissal. Thus, the
City encourages an employee to always be fair and courteous to co-workers,
citizens, suppliers, vendors or other people who work on behalf of
the City. Also, an employee should keep in mind that he or she is
more likely to resolve work-related complaints by speaking directly
with co-workers or by addressing the issue or problem with the Department
Head than by posting complaints to a social media outlet. Nevertheless,
if an employee decides to post complaints or criticism, he or she
should avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably
could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating,
that disparages guests, coworkers, citizens, suppliers or vendors,
that might constitute harassment or bullying or might violate any
applicable law. Examples of such conduct 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,
age, national origin, ethnicity, pregnancy, religion or any other
status protected by law or City policy.