As you read through the slides please note the highlighted items. • Items in “Yellow” indicate information that is

important for you to understand.

• Items in “Red” indicate items that you should not or are prohibited from doing under the policy.

• Click mouse or press space bar to advance through slides.

Policy Effective March 25, 2014

The Board of County Commissioners

approved the policy under Resolution

2014-29.

To set forth Desoto County’s policies and

procedures governing the use of social

media by County personnel and officials.

This policy is subject to modification at

any time by the County.

Applies to all County personnel and, where applicable, County officials (including elected officials as well as members of advisory boards, committees and task forces).

County employees are responsible for complying with the County’s personnel rules, including the County’s Computer Usage and Internet Policy.

Primary responsibility for interpretation and application rests with the County Administrator or the Administrator’s designee.

Questions should be directed to the County Administrator or the Administrator’s designee.

For purposes of this policy, social media is defined broadly it encompasses: • Any online action in virtual communities

• Networks

• Blogs and Microblogs

Internet-based applications include but are not limited to:

• Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr, and similar sites.

County-Sponsored Social Media Activities • All County websites and social media site accounts

must be approved by the County Administrator’s Office or their designee before being used for County business or operations.

• Sites and accounts will be overseen by the Department Director or Responsible Employee as assigned by the Administrator.

• Each Responsible Employee shall ensure their Department develops and maintains practices to ensure all content is approved prior to being posted.

County-Sponsored Social Media Activities – con’t

• Responsible Employees must ensure that the

Department’s practice complies with the

Florida’s Public Records Law and Sunshine Law.

• Responsible Employees should consult with

County Attorney’s Office for any questions or

issues pertaining to compliance with these laws.

County-Sponsored Social Media Activities – con’t

• Unless approved by the County Administrator or the

Administrator’s designee, no County website or

social media site or account shall allow public

commenting and/or posting.

• Any posting or similar “comment” features shall be

disabled on County-sponsored sites and accounts.

• Passwords should be safeguarded and not shared

with anyone other than authorized personnel.

County-Sponsored Social Media Activities – con’t

• County personnel must respect all copyright and

intellectual property laws.

• County reserves the right to use social media and

networking sites to screen job applicants as

permitted by applicable law.

• County-sponsored social media sites and accounts

should not be used for private purposes or to solicit

for any purpose not in connection with County

business or operations.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities

• Employees are prohibited from engaging in personal

social media activities while on working time (except

during meal or other approved breaks).

• County equipment, accounts, and resources should

not be used for personal social media activities.

• Be advised County employees have no expectation of

privacy and the County reserves the right to monitor,

review, and/or search such equipment, accounts, and

resources at any time and for any reason.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities – con’t

• Employees are not permitted to post any

pictures or depictions of themselves or others

wearing a County uniform, using County

equipment or vehicles.

• Or displaying any affiliation with the County on

personal social media sites without the express

prior approval from the employee’s supervisor.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities – con’t

• When publishing to a personal social media site or account, County employees must avoid stating, implying, or creating the impression that they are speaking in an official capacity or on behalf of the County or that their activity is endorsed by the County.

• County employees should not post information concerning the County without the express prior approval from the employee’s supervisor.

• County-maintained websites and social media activities shall be the officially-approved means of disseminating information to the public.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities – con’t • Employees are not permitted to post information

concerning County operations or employment which is defamatory, disparaging or otherwise casts the County or its personnel in a negative light.

• County personnel conduct, online and offline, is subjected to greater scrutiny in the community and the media. Employees are expected to exercise good judgment so as not to cast the County in a negative light.

• If, in the opinion of the County, the employee’s social media activities fail to comply with this expectation, the employee will be subject to disciplinary action.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities – con’t

• County employees are prohibited from engaging in any conduct on their personal social media sites and accounts that would be prohibited by the County’s unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation policies.

• Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict County personnel while off-duty or during meal or other approved breaks from the right to speak freely on matters of public concern or engage in lawful concerted activities for collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection as defined and interpreted by applicable law.

Employee Personal Social Media Activities – con’t

• Information created or received by a County employee or official (including elected officials as well as members of advisory boards, committees and task forces) connected with official County business may be considered a public record and is subject to the Florida Public Records Law, unless specifically exempted.

• This information may be subject to applicable retention laws and regulations.

• Official County business shall not be done on personal social media sites and accounts.

Violations of this policy may result in

disciplinary action up to and including

termination of employment.

If you have questions or need further

guidance please contact the Human

Resources Department .