Dos and Don’ts of social media for federal employees

Management

Dos and Don’ts of social media for federal employees

The Office of Government Ethics issued guidance on best practices for federal employees using personal social media sites.

Federal News Network Staff

April 16, 2015 5:21 pm

2 min read

By Sean McCalley
Federal News Radio

Federal employees need to be careful with how they use social media accounts, or they could find themselves in legal trouble.

The Office of Government Ethics published a “Standards of Conduct” guide for social media that details how to use sites like Facebook or LinkedIn. Employees can obviously use social media; however, there are restrictions for when and how.

For instance, going on Facebook while in the office or with a government- issued device is a bad idea. While not expressly forbidden, OGE referenced the law governing “official time” that requires employees make “an honest effort” to only perform work functions during working hours. That law also requires employees to protect and preserve government devices for strictly work-related purposes.

Employees should also refrain from including their official titles on sites like Facebook, Myspace or Xanga. OGE said including a title could accidentally imply a federal endorsement or sponsorship of some kind, or appear like an employee is using it for personal gain. Both of those violate federal employee conduct laws. However, there are instances where a title is appropriate. It just needs to stay purely biographical in nature, like on a list of previous or current job status. A person’s position in government is also a factor, as senior leaders and political appointees interact with the public on behalf of the agency or administration.

Endorsing your friends or colleagues for a certain skill or talent is OK, said OGE. This is a common trait in sites like LinkedIn. In these instances, the circumstances imply a personal affiliation as opposed to a representation on behalf of the agency or administration.

Also, fundraising through social media is OK, as long as normal precautions are followed regarding these activities. Federal employees shouldn’t use social media to solicit funds from subordinates, and the endorsement of a particular non-profit needs to come from a personal angle. There shouldn’t be any doubt as to whether the employee is acting on behalf of their position or government organization.

OGE also mentioned some agencies have their own specific rules regarding social media, so make sure to follow those, as well.

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