HAPCAP may provide employees with Internet access to help them do their jobs. This policy explains our guidelines for using the Internet responsibly and productively.
While Internet usage is intended for job-related activities, we permit incidental and occasional brief personal use within reasonable limits. All Internet data that is composed, transmitted, or received via our computer systems is considered to be part of our official records. This means that it is subject to disclosure to law enforcement or other third parties. Therefore, you should always make sure that the business information contained in Internet email messages and other transmissions is accurate, appropriate, ethical, and lawful.
Agency-provided equipment, services, and technology that you use to access the Internet are always the property of HAPCAP. Therefore, HAPCAP reserves the right to monitor Internet traffic. We also reserve the right to retrieve and read any data composed, sent, or received through our online connections or stored in our computer systems. We do not allow data composed, transmitted, accessed, or received via the Internet to contain content that could be considered discriminatory, offensive, obscene, threatening, harassing, intimidating, or disruptive to any employee or other persons. Examples of unacceptable content include (but are not limited to) sexual comments or images, racial slurs, gender-specific comments, or other comments or images that could reasonably offend someone based on race, age, sex, religious or political beliefs, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
HAPCAP does not allow the unauthorized use, installation, copying, or distribution of copyrighted, trademarked, or patented material on the Internet. In general, if you did not create the material, do not own the rights to it, or have not received authorization for its use, you may not put the material on the Internet. You are also responsible for ensuring that a person sending material over the Internet has the appropriate distribution rights. Before you download or copy a file from the Internet, you should take the necessary anti-virus precautions. HAPCAP requires that all downloaded files be checked for viruses. Virus protection software and firewalls are provided on each computer and at the server level. All compressed files must be checked for viruses both before and after decompression.
We prohibit the use of social networking sites (i.e. my space©, facebook©, twitter©, etc.) during the workday. This type of use is not HAPCAP work-related and is unacceptable during business hours. The Executive Director or the Director of Finance and Administration may authorize a deviation from this policy for employees whose jobs require interaction with such sites for specific Agency purposes. HAPCAP also reserves the right to restrict access to any internet sites deemed inappropriate for use throughout the workday.
Employees are also restricted from posting any confidential or negative information about the Agency, its programs, employees, or clients on personal social networking sites. Such postings are cause for disciplinary action up to or including termination. Employees whose Internet usage violates laws or HAPCAP policies are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employees may also be held personally liable for any violations of this policy. The following [including, but not limited to] are examples of some prohibited actions and activities, that when conducted willfully, may result in disciplinary action:
- Sending or posting discriminatory, harassing, or threatening messages or images
- Using the Agency's time and resources for personal gain
- Stealing, using, or disclosing someone else's code or password without authorization
- Copying, pirating, or downloading software and electronic files without permission
- Sending or posting confidential material, trade secrets, or proprietary information outside of the agency
- Violating copyright law
- Failing to observe licensing agreements
- Engaging in unauthorized transactions that may incur a cost to the agency or initiate unwanted Internet services and transmissions
- Sending or posting messages or material that could damage the agency's image or reputation
- Participating in the viewing or exchange of pornography or obscene materials
- Sending or posting messages that defame or slander other individuals
- Attempting to break into the computer system of another organization or person
- Refusing to cooperate with a security investigation
- Sending or posting chain letters, solicitations, jokes, spam or advertisements not related to business purposes or activities
- Using the Agency Internet service for political causes or activities, religious activities, or any sort of gambling
- Jeopardizing the security of the agency's electronic communications systems
- Sending or posting messages that disparage another organization's products or services
- Passing off personal views as representing those of the agency
- Sending anonymous email messages
- Engaging in any other illegal activities