Employee Handbook

The company provides a wide variety of communication tools and resources to employees for use in running day-to-day business activities. Whether it is the telephone system, voice mail, fax, scanner, Internet, intranet (Wiki), email, text messaging, instant messaging, interoffice mail, or any other company-provided technology, use should be reserved for business-related matters during working hours. All communication using these tools should be handled in a professional and respectful manner.

Employees should not have any expectation of privacy in their use of the company computer, phone, or other communication tools. All communications made using company-provided equipment or services, including email and internet activity, are subject to inspection by the company. Employees should keep in mind that even if they delete an email, voicemail or other communication, a copy may be archived on the company’s systems.

Employee use of company-provided communication systems, including personal email and internet use, which are not job-related have the potential to drain, rather than enhance, productivity and system performance. You should also be aware that information transmitted through email and the internet is not completely secure or may contain viruses or malware, and information you transmit and receive could damage the company’s systems as well as the reputation and/or competitiveness of the company.

To protect against potential problems, delete any email messages prior to opening that are received from unknown senders and advertisers. It also is against company policy to turn off antivirus protection software or make unauthorized changes to system configurations installed on company computers. Violations of this policy may result in termination for a first offense.

The company encourages employees to use email only to communicate with fellow employees, suppliers, customers, or potential customers regarding company business. Internal and external emails are considered business records and may be subject to federal and state recordkeeping requirements as well as to be discovered in the event of litigation. Be aware of this possibility when sending emails within and outside the company.

All use of company-provided communications systems, including email and internet use, should conform to our company guidelines/policies, including but not limited to Equal Opportunity, Harassment, Confidential Information, and Conflicts of Interest. So, for example, employees should not engage in harassing or discriminatory behavior that targets other employees or individuals because of their protected class status or make defamatory comments. Similarly, employees should not divulge confidential information such as trade secrets, client lists, or information restricted from disclosure by law on social media sites.

Because email, telephone and voice mail, and internet communication equipment are provided for company business purposes and are critical to the company’s success, your communications may be accessed without further notice by Information Technology department administrators and company management to ensure compliance with this guideline.

The electronic communication systems are not secure and may allow inadvertent disclosure, accidental transmission to third parties, etc. Sensitive information should not be sent via unsecured electronic means.

The Company telephone system is for business purposes. While the company recognizes that some personal calls are necessary, these should be kept as brief as possible and to a minimum. Personal use of the company’s cell phones is strongly discouraged. Abuse of these privileges is subject to corrective action up to and including termination.

The company reserves the right to monitor customer calls to ensure employees abide by company quality guidelines and provide appropriate levels of customer service. Employees working in sales and customer service will be subject to telephone monitoring and email. Should the subject matter of any telephone conversation become personal while monitoring is taking place, monitoring of the call will immediately be discontinued.

Nothing in this policy is designed to interfere with, restrain, or prevent employee communications regarding wages, hours, or other terms and conditions of employment as protected under the National Labor Relations Act. Employees have the right to engage in or refrain from such activities.