Social Media Policy

Total Community Action, Inc. (TCA) understands that social media can be a rewarding way to share information, experiences, and opinions. However, the use of social media also presents certain risks and carries certain responsibilities.

Social media includes communicating or posting information or content on the Internet, including blogs, personal websites, social networking websites, bulletin boards, chat rooms, and other forms of electronic communication.

Respectful Communication

TCA expects social media content concerning TCA, its employees, board and Policy Council members, program participants, community partners, vendors, volunteers, interns, contractors, and individuals working on behalf of TCA to be fair, courteous, honest, and accurate.

TCA does not tolerate content involving:

* Discriminatory remarks
* Harassment or bullying
* Threats of violence
* Malicious, obscene, threatening, or intimidating statements
* Content intended to harm another person’s reputation
* Information or rumors known to be false
* Content that may contribute to a hostile working environment based on race, sex, disability, religion, or another status protected by law or agency policy

Confidentiality

Confidential information includes information concerning agency employees, officials, clients, program participants, and TCA business transactions that becomes known while carrying out official duties.

Personal, confidential, or personally identifiable information concerning an individual who has received services from TCA must not be posted or disclosed through social media.

Internal reports, policies, procedures, and other confidential internal business communications must not be posted.

Personal Opinions

Individuals must not represent themselves as a spokesperson for TCA unless authorized to do so.

When an employee posts personal content concerning TCA or work associated with TCA, the employee must make it clear that the employee’s views do not represent TCA.

The following disclaimer may be used:

> “The views and comments stated herein are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.”

Official TCA Social Media Accounts

Only employees whose job responsibilities include posting information to TCA-maintained websites or social media accounts, or employees who have received express authorization, may post on behalf of TCA.

Authorized employees posting on behalf of TCA must:

* Follow TCA’s professional standards, values, policies, and applicable laws
* Post information that is current and accurate
* Correct errors promptly
* Protect confidential and personally identifiable information
* Comply with TCA’s Political Activity Policy
* Refrain from posting obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, harassing, or intimidating content

The content and followers of TCA-maintained social media accounts belong exclusively to TCA.

No employee may create an official TCA social media account or change the password of an official account unless authorized under TCA’s established account-management procedures.

Media Inquiries

Employees must not speak to the media on behalf of TCA without authorization. All media inquiries must be directed to the appropriate Program Director or the President/CEO.

Employee Rights

Nothing in TCA’s Social Media Policy is intended to interfere with rights employees may have under the National Labor Relations Act, including protected discussions concerning working conditions, pay, and benefits.