City Council Adopts Social Media Policy

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council has adopted a highly restrictive social media policy that applies to all city employees “without regard to whether their social media activity is conducted in or outside the workplace, while on or off-duty.”

Interestingly enough, the policy defines employees not only as those employed by the city but also as public officials elected by the city and any Authority or Commission member appointed by those in public office.

The policy specifies that “employees engaging in social media activity in violation of the policy will be held accountable, and corrective and/or disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment may be taken in accordance with the City’s disciplinary policies.”

Prohibited activity includes, but is not limited to, endorsing violence or illegal activity, promoting or endorsing the abuse of alcohol or drugs and engaging in conduct unbecoming an employee of the City or bringing discredit to the City.

In general, the term “social activity” refers to MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, Tumblr and Blogger.

It discourages employees from identifying themselves as city employees and encourages whistle blowing by employees by stating “all employees have an ongoing duty to report any violations of this policy by any other employee.”

The policy also states, “Nothing in this policy is intended or will be applied in a manner that violates an employee’s constitutional rights, including rights to freedom of speech and association, or Federal or State rights to engage in statutorily protected activity.”

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