Even in sleepy Greene County, a lot has changed since 1997 -- the last time the county's administrative manual got an update. Yesterday, county legislators began to tackle the sticky question of what their social-networking policy should look like, the Daily Mail reports.
The draft policy doesn't prohibit county employees from Facebooking on their own time, but it does imply that the boss will be looking over their shoulders:
Be respectful to the county, other employees, customers and clients. Speak respectfully about the county and its current and potential employees, customers and clients. Do not engage in name calling or behavior that will reflect negatively on the county’s reputation. Note that the use of copy righted materials, unfounded or derogatory statements, or misrepresentation or any confidential or proprietary information is not viewed favorably by the county and can result in disciplinary action up to and including employment termination.
County employees with their own blogs will also have to post disclaimers stating that they're not representing the county, according to the proposed policy.
Not everybody is happy about the proposal.
“If I’m at home on my computer on Facebook or whatever and I want to write something nice about somebody or not nice about somebody… that’s a free speech issue. That’s my right to do that,” said [Catskill legislator Joseph] Izzo. “I should not be told that I may be subject to disciplinary procedure because I want to express my opinion on my own time, on my own computer."
