Policy: Social Media Policy
Purpose: To identity employee and volunteer policies and procedures for proper use of online social media networks, as they relate to the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. Minimize the business, legal and personal risks that may arise from the use of social media by MBEMSC employees, contractors and volunteers (“Individuals”), whether or not
engaged in on behalf of MBEMSC;
2. Protect the privacy and safety of Individuals and our other constituencies;
3. Prevent legal risks that may arise from taking adverse action against employees or potential employees or other individuals due to use of social media; and
4. Outline Individuals’ obligations to avoid conduct that may violate local, state or federal law or other MBEMSC policies or that may trigger claims against MBEMSC of (a) discrimination, harassment, retaliation or any other unfair employment practices or (b) violation of privacy . MBEMSC believes that participation in online communities is a valuable means of sharing and communicating. This policy is not intended to restrict the flow of useful and appropriate information. Policy: MBEMSC recognizes the growing importance of online social media networks as a communication tool. This policy and its procedures address an Individual’s use of such networks including: personal websites, web logs (blogs), wikis, social networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), online forums, online profiles, media sharing sites (e.g., Flickr, YouTube, SlideShare), virtual worlds, and any other kind of social media (collectively, “Social Media”), and “MBEMSC-Hosted Media Sites,” which means internet or intranet sites or Social Media accounts hosted or branded by MBEMSC (e.g., MBEMSC page, blog, Twitter account, YouTube channel, etc.) We respect the rights of employees to use these media during their personal time, subject to the limitations described herein. Use of these media by employees of MBEMSC during work hours, or by any Individuals on MBEMSC equipment, however, is prohibited unless it is for official business of MBEMSC. Scope: This policy and its procedures address the responsibilities of MBEMSC employees and contractors, and volunteers who serve on the Board or Committees of MBEMSC, and any other non-employed individuals who may be required by contract or otherwise to adhere to applicable MBEMSC policies (“Individuals”). This policy applies to the use of Social Media, including MBEMSC-Hosted Media Sites, during work and non-work time, when an Individual’s affiliation with MBEMSC is identified, known or presumed. It does not apply to content that is otherwise unrelated to MBEMSC or is protected by law. MBEMSC takes no position on an Individual’s decision to participate in the use of Social Media. In general, Individuals who participate in Social Media are free to publish their own personal information. Individuals must avoid, however, posting information that could harm MBEMSC using the guidelines set forth below. Procedural Guidelines and Responsibility:
All Individuals are responsible for maintaining the company’s positive reputation and under no circumstances should they present MBEMSC to the public in a manner that diminishes its standing within the community. Instead, Individuals are responsible for presenting MBEMSC in a manner that safeguards the positive reputation of themselves, as well as other Individuals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MBEMSC recognizes employees’ rights to discuss conditions of employment with each other (whether in person or via Social Media) to the extent such rights are protected by law. If an Individual chooses to identify him or herself (or is well-known in the community) as a MBEMSC employee or volunteer or contractor on any Social Media site or platform, including MBEMSC-Hosted Social Media, he or she must adhere to the following:
• Individuals are required to state in clear terms that the views expressed on any social media network are theirs alone and that they do not necessarily reflect the views of MBEMSC. This applies to all postings by employees and any postings by contractors and volunteers that are in any way related to the scope of their work with MBEMSC.
• Employees and volunteers are prohibited from disclosing information via Social Media that is confidential or proprietary to MBEMSC or to a third party that has disclosed information to the company.
• Official MBEMSC representation via Social Media platforms can only be initiated and authorized by the Executive Director or his designee. Individuals are not authorized to use and may not use "MBEMSC" or any variation of the name, or any MBEMSC logo, in their online user names or personas or identities unless so authorized. Do not comment upon MBEMSC matters online in an official capacity without advance authorization by the Executive Director or his designee. Never comment on pending legal matters involving MBEMSC unless acting in an approved official capacity as an MBEMSC spokesperson.
• Individuals should not post images of MBEMSC co-workers, contractors or volunteers without their consent. Individuals may not post any nonpublic images of MBEMSC premises and property, except as an integral part of protected activity as defined by the NLRB, such as discussions of terms and conditions of employment.
• Individuals may not post statements via Social Media about MBEMSC, other Individuals, our customers, agents, or partners that are harassing, threatening, libelous, or defamatory.
• Individuals may not post or share via Social Media any communication that engages in personal or sexual harassment, unfounded accusations, or remarks that would contribute to a hostile work environment (racial, sexual, religious, etc.), as well as any behavior not in agreement with MBEMSC’s general company policies.
• Individuals may not post or share via Social Media any communication that violates the privacy rights of any other person or that violates state or federal privacy laws and regulations (including without limitation HIPAA). Individuals who participate in Social Media may still decide to include information about their work at MBEMSC as part of their personal profile, as it would relate to a typical social conversation. This may include:
• Work information included in a personal profile, to include company name, job title, and job duties.
• Status updates regarding an employee’s own job promotion.
• Personal participation in MBEMSC sponsored events, including volunteer activities. An Individual who is responsible for a Social Media posting that fails to comply with the guidelines set forth in this policy or that otherwise causes harm to MBEMSC may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment or contract or removal from the MBEMSC Board and its Committees. Individuals will be held responsible for the disclosure, whether purposeful or inadvertent, of confidential or proprietary MBEMSC information, information that violates the privacy rights or other rights of a third party, or the content of anything that they post or share via Social Media. Further, they may be liable for monetary damages for such disclosure. Anything posted by an Individual on Social Media or otherwise on line other than on MBEMSC-Hosted Media Sites will be subject to all MBEMSC policies, rules, regulations, and guidelines. MBEMSC is free to view and monitor an Individual’s publicly-accessible internet sites and nonpublic Social Media sites to which MBEMSC or an employee thereof has been invited/approved as a friend/follower, etc., at any time without consent or previous approval. Be open, honest, respectful and transparent when discussing professional topics online. Individuals should not create a false identity; write about other entities in a negative way; "pick fights;" or engage in impolite online dialogue, no matter how rude or provocative others may be. Individuals should be professional and use good judgment in things that are said and done online. In addition, Individuals should seek to add value to online conversations in ways that support the health of communities that MBEMSC serves, and in line with MBEMSC mission, vision and values. Though some sites have a restricted-content feature, Individuals must assume that all online content is viewable by anyone on the internet, especially because digital information can be easily shared and altered. Remember- all content contributed on all platforms becomes immediately searchable and can be immediately shared. This content immediately leaves the author's control forever. Consequently, Individuals are responsible for ensuring the appropriateness of all MBEMSC-related content posted by them, regardless of where it is posted. Individuals should notify the Executive Director if they encounter incorrect information about MBEMSC online, in any form. Individuals should not attempt to correct any such information that appears online unless specifically authorized to do so by the Executive Director or his designee. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or contract or removal from the Board and its Committees.
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Metropolitan Boston EMS Council (MBEMSC)
Social Media Guidelines
We engage with our constituents beyond the walls of our office: you can find us on Facebook and Twitter. This page will give you a better idea on how to engage with us in social media, what you can expect from us, and where to find more information. Please remember that information posted on any of our social media platforms shouldn't be considered medical advice and shouldn't replace a consultation with a health care professional. Twitter Engagement Guidelines
Twitter asks a very basic question of its users: “What’s happening?” And we know the answer to that question – we’re “Fostering a system of care” every day to help EMS Services, providers and the public to be better served. Through our Twitter account we aim to provide you with information on MBEMSC’s major activities and initiatives - from continuing education, advances in treatment modalities, EMS research, and public health initiatives. We welcome your thoughts on any and all of those topics. Please note that we won’t be able to reply to specific individual issues through Twitter. If you would like to discuss specific issues or concerns involving a service, provider or pre-hospital care, please contact our office at 781-505-4367 or email info@mbemsc.org. Here are a couple of things you should know about our Twitter engagement:
• All official MBEMSC Twitter users are identified at mbemsc.org/twitter.
• We are committed to having a dialogue with our followers. We count on you to use @ messages in a way that contributes to the dialogue. Please support any claims with links to information sources whenever possible. We like opinions; we like them even more when you back them up with facts.
• We strive to respond to as many relevant questions and comments as possible, but we reserve the right to use our judgment in selecting the messages to which we respond.
• Following a Twitter account or including an account in a Twitter list does not constitute an endorsement; the same applies to re-tweeting messages posted on accounts that MBEMSC does not own, or marking them as “favorites.”
The posting and presence of content on Twitter and on this site does not necessarily mean that MBEMSC agrees with the content, ensures its accuracy or otherwise approves of it. Nothing in any Twitter page constitutes a binding representation, agreement or an endorsement on the part of MBEMSC. Please review Twitter’s terms of use carefully when engaging on the site. Facebook Engagement Guidelines
We’re excited that you’ve joined us on our page, and we know you’ve got plenty to say. At MBEMSC, our mission supports, strengthens, and promotes the quality of EMS by fostering a system of care, furthering public and professional education, and encouraging research. While you’re with us, we hope you’ll take a moment to read the following guidelines we ask you to follow when contributing to our page:
1. Don’t do anything that breaks the law.
2. Be polite and courteous, even if you disagree. Excessive name calling, profanity, fighting words, discriminatory epithets, sexual harassment, bullying, gruesome language or images or the like, will not be tolerated.
3. Keep the conversation relevant to the community and contribute to the dialogue. We reserve the right to remove off-topic, out of context, spam or promotional postings.
4. All wall postings should come from a real person and Facebook profile. Postings from fake or anonymous profiles will be deleted when discovered.
5. There is a place for service-related or individual provider specific questions, complaints, concerns or ideas from the EMS community in Region IV. If you are a provider service or individual provider/EMT and have a specific complaint or concern, we encourage you to contact our office at 781-505-4367 or email info@mbemsc.org., to ensure that we can respond in a timely manner. Please note that any post published on the MBEMSC page that specifically denigrates or complains about employers, employees, agencies, or other partner entities, or that shares private patient information will be removed when discovered. As always, if you would like to discuss specific issues or concerns involving a service, provider or pre-hospital care, please contact our office at 781-505-4367 or email info@mbemsc.org. We reserve the right to remove content posted to our page that violates these guidelines. If you are a Staff Member or Contractor of MBEMSC or are a Volunteer on the Board of Directors or its Committees, please contact the office for a copy of the MBEMSC Social Media Policy. Remember:
1. Know the rules. Before engaging on Facebook, or on any other social media property, make sure you read and understand MBEMSC’s Social Media Policy. In any and all interactions make sure that you don’t share confidential or private information about any patient or other person, or about MBEMSC’s operations, products, services, or customers; respect financial disclosure laws; and do not say you speak for the Council without express written authorization from the Executive Director to do so.
2. Remember that Council Staff is responsible for responding to inquiries or criticism. Our Council Staff is responsible for engaging constituents through our page. To avoid confusion, we ask that you not attempt to respond to inquiries or comments directed specifically to MBEMSC or asking for an official MBEMSC response on this site.
3. Consider using MBEMSC established channels for job-specific issues. While we encourage staff to join our Facebook community and participate in conversations with our constituents and other users, and we recognize employees’ rights to discuss conditions of employment with each other (whether in person or via social media) to the extent such rights are protected by law,
we encourage you to direct your complaints or concerns about your job or working environment to the Executive Director using the established Open Door Process.
