A new social media policy the BREC board of commissioners approved Thursday will ask employees to sign off on understanding that “I can be held liable for anything I write, post or present online.” The policy says those who break it can be subject to discipline or even immediate termination.
BREC Communications Director Cheryl Michelet told the board when asking it to approve the policy that it had not been updated in several years. The new policy outlines rules for people using both personal social media pages and accounts of behalf of BREC.
“If you chose to publicly identify yourself as a BREC employee, it is with the understanding that some may view you as a spokesperson for BREC,” the new policy says. “BREC encourages the inclusion of a statement informing viewers that the opinions expressed are not those of BREC or any related entity.”
Among the guidelines: Employees should not publicly discuss co-workers or confidential work-related issues; employees contacted by the media about BREC-related social media posts should inform the communications department; people running BREC social media accounts should only “like” or follow other accounts “that are in the interest of BREC.”
The rules encourage employees to report violations to supervisors or human resources. They also remind employees that all social media comments and posts are subject to state public records laws.
“This one is governing the use of social media to make sure that BREC is protected,” Michelet said.
Social media policies from local public agencies have been controversial as officials try to navigate how to maintain a good image for their organizations without stomping on First Amendment rights. A Rapides Parish teacher sued her school after alleging her principal told her to no longer post personal opinions on social media, while an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy was fired after posting a disparaging comment about a McDonald’s on his Facebook page.
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