E-Mail Guide

Company Guide To Internet Usage And E-Mail

E-MAIL AND INTERNET POLICY

(Example provided courtesy of Seay Management)

In order to facilitate communications at our Company, we have installed a computer network system that includes an e-mail capability and an Internet connection.

The Internet is a completely wide open forum that is unregulated, which both has its advantages and disadvantages.

Owing to the ease of availability and the potential for good and for harm, we must adopt certain very specific rules and regulations for Internet use.

While at work, employees may use the Internet only for official Company business, such as research and communicating with other business associates.

Employees may not use the Internet for personal matters, private business, or entertainment.

We all know that the Internet is an enormous worldwide resource that contains many web sites, some of which are very good and some of which are inappropriate for a professional business office.

Some of the inappropriate web sites include games, amusement, various chat rooms, and sexually oriented material.

Use of these inappropriate web sites might affect individual job performance and might be offensive to others, as well.

Therefore, it is the policy of the Company that employees may not access any web sites except those that are directly related to your job duties and responsibilities.

Some of these web sites can appear when you are searching for another site, so be careful when using the search engines to make sure that you do not access any of these inappropriate web sites.

Similarly, all employees should remember that the e-mail system is Company property.

You should treat the e-mail system with respect and only use it for official Company business.

Remember that even when you delete an e-mail message, it can remain in the computers memory system forever and can sometimes be retrieved at a later date.

You should compose e-mail messages with the same care as hard copy correspondence.

Employees are not allowed to upload or download copyrighted materials, trade secrets, proprietary financial information, or similar materials without prior authorization.

Employees may not use a code, access a file, or retrieve any stored information unless specifically authorized.

In addition, you may not access another employees e-mail without that employee's permission.

Employees may not use e-mail for private or personal messages and employees have no privacy rights with regard to messages they place on the e-mail system.

It is very important to compose e-mail messages that are professional, business-like, and in good taste.

E-mail messages may not contain material that is offensive nor should they contain racial, ethnic, religious or sexual slurs, or any other language that is inappropriate.

The Company reserves the right to monitor, retrieve, and read all e-mail messages.

This example of an Employee Guide To Internet and Email usage was provided courtesy of Seay Management Consultants.

If you would like to include all or part of it it in your employee handbook please contact Jennifer McBennett at Seay Management Consultants for permission to use it.