The New Company Has a Blog Policy

Company Blogging Policy and Guidelines

As a company, we believe in encouraging communication among our employees, customers, partners, and others—and Web logs (blogs) can be a great way to stimulate conversation and discussion. They’re also an invaluable tool for experienced Company users who want to share information and tips on the use of Company products.

Even if your blogging activities take place completely outside of work, as your personal blogging activities should, what you say can have an influence on your ability to conduct your job responsibilities, your teammates’ abilities to do their jobs, and Company’s business interests.

Protect Confidential Information
You may not use your blog to disclose Company’s confidential information. Protecting the confidential information of our employees, customers, partners, and suppliers is also important. Do not mention them in your blog without their permission, and make sure you don’t disclose items such as sensitive personal information of others or details related to Company’s business with its customers. Take care not to disparage or denigrate competitors.

Don’t Comment on M&A Activity
You must not comment publicly on Company's M&A activity, including potential and pending acquisitions. This applies to potential acquisitions regardless of their status – in diligence, announced but not closed, etc. Any commentary on what a transaction or potential transaction may mean to Company, positive, negative or neutral can be problematic.

Refrain from Objectionable or Inflammatory Posts
Do not post anything that is false, misleading, obscene, defamatory, profane, discriminatory, libelous, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, or embarrassing to another person or entity.

Don’t Speak for the Company
Remember that you are not an official spokesperson for the Company. Make it clear that your opinions are your own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the corporation.

Policy Regarding Communications with Press and Analysts.
Company employees with personal blogs that discuss Company’s business, products, employees, customers, partners, or competitors should include the following disclaimer in a visually prominent place on their blog:
The views expressed on this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Company.
Note that while you are not an official spokesperson, your status as a Company employee may still be relevant to the subject matter. You should identify yourself as an employee if failing to do so could be misleading to readers. Employees should not engage in covert advocacy for Company.

Respect Copyrights
You must recognize and respect others’ intellectual property rights, including copyrights. While certain limited use of third-party materials (for example, use of a short quotation that you are providing comment on) may not always require approval from the copyright owner, it is still advisable to get the owner’s permission whenever you use third-party materials. Never use more than a short excerpt from someone else’s work, and make sure to credit and, if possible, link to the original source.

Don't Misuse Company Resources
Personal blogging activities must not interfere with your work or productivity at Company. Don't use company resources to set-up your own blogging environment, even if you are blogging about matters related to Company.