SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
The Fraternity Club recognises the importance of Social Media as a tool for engaging with its customer base. This policy is designed to protect the interests and reputation of The Fraternity Club and its stakeholders by ensuring directors, administrators, all staff, members and guests are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to appropriately use Social Media.
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The policy aims to:
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Protect the Club’s reputation from being brought into disrepute through the use of Social Media by its employees.
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Protect the Club’s employees and members from bullying, harassment or discrimination through the use of Social Media; and ensure there is an understanding throughout all stakeholders as to what is and is not permissible when using Social Media as a representative or associate of The Fraternity Club.
This policy applies to all staff, directors, contractors and members, and is included both within the Employee Handbook and present wherever possible throughout Social Media platforms used. The Club is not seeking to restrict the use of Social Media, but to set guidelines where material relates to the Club. The policy will be updated and reviewed regularly as new technology and platforms emerge.
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Social Media is not to be used in a manner that brings the Club’s reputation into disrepute or harms the Club’s commercial interests. This includes making comments, written or otherwise, that are slanderous or defamatory about the Club, its services, its employees, its members and guests, any other business-related activities undertaken by the Club.
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All stakeholders must also adhere to the Terms of Use of the relevant Social Media platform/website, as well as copyright, privacy, defamation, discrimination, harassment and other applicable laws at all times.
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SCOPE
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This policy applies to all those (employees, members and other stakeholders) who use Social Media, and covers all forms of Social Media, including (but not limited to):
a) Social networking websites e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Google+.
b) Video and photo sharing websites e.g. YouTube, Flickr, Vimeo.
c) Weblogs, including corporate blogs, personal blogs or blogs hosted by traditional media publications.
d) Forums and discussion boards e.g. Whirlpool, Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups.
e) Any other website that allows individual users or companies to use publishing tools.
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1. FOR STAFF & CONTRACTORS
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Only authorised people may speak on behalf of The Fraternity Club. Staff who wish to express or transmit Club material need to seek approval through Club Management. Those who wish to express any reference in relation to The Fraternity Club must have the authorisation to do so and complete the relevant Social Media training.
Employees of The Fraternity Club shall comply with the following procedure regarding Social Media whilst on the company network and outside of it;
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Do not use or access Social Media during work hours (unless using The Fraternity Club account as authorised and directed to do so by Management).
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Only disclose and discuss publicly available information.
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Explicitly state on all postings identifying you in association with the Club that the stated views are your own and not the view of The Fraternity Club.
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Social Media is not to be used in a manner that constitutes bullying, harassment or discrimination of a co-worker or member (bullying, harassment and discrimination policies can be found within the staff handbook).
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Specific Guidelines for Authorised Users
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The Fraternity Club has a clear position in relation to Respect, Responsibility and Gaming which must be considered in any communications.
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Club Information must be released through The Fraternity Club’s official Social Media accounts before others can publish such information through their individual accounts.
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Social Media should not be used for posting or exchanging information that has the potential to embarrass or bring The Fraternity Club or its related parties into disrepute.
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Social Media should not be used for communicating confidential or competitively/commercially sensitive information without the express permission of The Fraternity Club.
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Social Media should not be used for the posting of photos of Fraternity Club events or associated individuals without the permission of The Fraternity Club, and actions by individuals who do so may be vetted by Fraternity Club management.
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The Club has the right to access any data lists employees accumulate whilst working at The Fraternity Club.
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Use common sense and good judgment - all persons are accountable for their own actions and your statements could impact on you and The Fraternity Club’s reputation.
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If you would not say something to a member of the media, do not publish it on any form of Social Media. Remember that what you post or publish will become public information.
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Directors, employees and contractors who are unsure whether or not they are authorised to publish opinions or views of The Fraternity Club should contact the Management.
Any employee who breaches this policy shall be subject to counselling and/or disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment. It is the expectation of The Fraternity Club that employees will promptly advise the management of any facts or circumstances which may suggest a breach of the policy.
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2. FOR MEMBERS, GUESTS & GENERAL USERS
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Members, guests and external users must also comply with this policy when engaging with any Social Media platforms operated by, or in regard or reference to The Fraternity Club and its employees, members and guests, services, facilities or any other manner. Any slanderous, defamatory or discriminatory comments made via Social Media (written or otherwise), that are about the Club, its business activities or its associated parties are considered public and may result in loss of membership, banning from the club, or any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate.
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Social Media is not to be used in a manner that constitutes bullying, harassment or discrimination of anyone associated with The Fraternity Club, including (but not limited to) employees, members and guests.
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BREACH OF POLICY
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The Fraternity Club has an obligation to consistently apply and enforce this policy. Likewise, employees, members and external users must comply with this policy.
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The Fraternity Club will continue to monitor the use of its information technology system to ensure compliance with this policy.
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